Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.- The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is proud to present “From Tree to Treasure” modern examples of the traditional art of woodturning, on view at the museum from January 15th through April 26th 2012. Invitations to exhibit were extended to artists whose work exemplifies not only the time-honored traditional purposes and functions of wood but also to those who integrate personal statements and designs with new materials and technologies. “From Tree to Treasure” features over 50 works by 38 artists from across the United States and around the world, many of them members of the American Association of Woodturners. The exhibition will showcase a wide variety of style and presentations, from pedestal and tabletop pieces to wall hangings. Works on exhibit feature both representative and abstract styles. Each creation reflects not only the technique used by the artist to shape the piece, but a variety of surface treatments as well.
Pieces may have surfaces which have been blackened, perhaps symbolizing a darkness of spirit; weathering to simulate aging; the application of one or more layers of paint; and the addition of precious metals, glass or other materials. Many intricate shapes and designs can be made by turning wood. There are two distinct methods of turning wood: spindle turning and faceplate turning. In spindle turning, the wood is fixed between 2 points. The spur center digs in to the wood and is powered by a motor. The other, a hard center or a live center may be a point or set of points in the tailstock. In face plate turning, the wood is secured with screws to a faceplate or in a chuck or jig. the tail stock and a center may also be used for added support on large pieces with a faceplate. Most bowls, platters and many vessels are face plate turned, while, Pens, furniture legs, spindles, and some vessels are spindle turned. The method used may differ depending on the shape of the blank and the technique of the turner, and both methods may be used on the same piece.
When wood is cut in such a way that the fiber being cut is not supported by the fiber below it, it tends to separate and tear. This “tearout” exhibits a rough, highly damaged looking surface texture and greatly reduces the value of any product exhibiting it. The direction of cut is different in spindle turning and faceplate turning because cutting in the wrong direction can cause tearout. Spindle turning cuts are made from high points toward the axis on the outside of the piece, and from the axis toward the outside when hollowing. When faceplate turning, the opposite applies.
The Art Museum of Myrtle Beach first opened to the public in June, 1997, but was conceived some 13 years earlier by a small group of Myrtle Beach visionaries – artists, art patrons, business leaders, cultural enthusiasts and other private citizens. The building itself dates to 1924, when it was built by textile industry mogul Eugene Cannon in the Cabana section of Myrtle Beach. It was subsequently sold to Col. Elliot White Springs for use by his family and executives of Springs Industries and re-christened Springmaid Villa. In 1975, the Villa changed hands again and was slated for demolition. A campaign to save Springmaid Villa began, led initially by Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild President Gaye Sanders Fisher. The building’s survival, however, was contingent on its relocation: a Herculean effort organized by Guild member and Myrtle Beach Councilman Harry Charles, along with his wife, Jane. Relocating the 150-ton structure required two flatbed trucks for three full days, with a team of city employees, utility workers and every member of the Guild working side by side. The Villa was taken to its new home eight miles south, an undeveloped property whose donation by the Myrtle Beach Farms Company, precursor to the Burroughs & Chapin Company, had been negotiated by Harry Charles. Charles was also instrumental in creating the Springmaid Villa Art Museum Corporation, a new non-profit with a board of trustees charged with converting and later managing the property as a public Art Museum. Following a decade-long fundraising effort, the Museum opened its doors in June, 1997. In recognition of the land donation, it was re-named for the founders of Myrtle Beach Farms and became the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. Visit the museum’s website at … http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org