Ying and Yang

By Ken Deaner

  A number of our members attended a demonstration given by Binh Pho at the 2000-2001 A.A.W Symposiums.  My only contact with Binh was spotting a small piece of his work at the 2002 Rhode Island Symposium.  His work interested me and I wanted to learn more.

  Binh is an artist whose medium is wood.  Binh is a wood turner but does not fancy himself as such.  His turning is extremely thin and he pierces, textures, gold leafs and paints his work.  His work reflects his belief in Taoism.  Earth, water, fire and air are in balance.  This balance is found in his art and in his teaching style as well.

   Studying with Binh for a week at Arrowmont, School for Arts and Craft,  taught me a great deal about the man and  his medium.  The wooden vessel is the pallet upon which Binh works. He carves, paints and textures his work leaving a part of himself on the “canvass.”

  Step-by-step Binh leads his students on the path of exploration and discovery.  The fourteen students in the class were all experienced turners.  We each placed ourselves in Binh’s hands as we began to apply what he taught us to our own projects.

  Painting or coloring wood has been looked at by the turning community as a ”no-no” for many decades.  Once you see Binh’s work and begin to apply some of his techniques to your own work you quickly become a convert and reject past thinking. 

  Binh’s art can be found in many galleries and is among the pieces displayed at the White House. 

  Turners are rapidly discovering that mixed media applied to wood has been one of the many creative ideas moving turned objects into the art rather than craft world.  Collectors have been wowed by Binh’s work.  While many turners are finding it difficult to sell their pieces in the present economy Binh’s work finds a ready market.

  Binh is not afraid to share his techniques.  His creative mind is working so fast that what he is teaching now is only a part of what he has in mind for his future creations.  He does not create to sell he creates because he loves what he is doing.  It is an expression of his inner self. 

  I truly enjoyed studying with Binh and look forward to seeing his work  in the future.  He is one of the true leaders of the turning/art world  and his influence is yet to be reckoned with.  I don’t yet know how may future work will be influenced by what I learned but my mind has been stimulated and I am excited about all of the new possibilities.
 

Alan Russo Demonstrates Inlays

  Alan Russo demonstrated how to do inlays in turned projects.  Carefully setting the angle of your scroll saw is key to getting the inlay to fit correctly not the slot cut.  Al demonstrated inlaying into a box lid cover.  It adds considerable interest to box work.  Thanks for a fine demonstration.