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Summer Beam Books
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale Contributor(s): Roszkiewicz, Ron (Author)
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale Contributor(s): Roszkiewicz, Ron (Author)
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To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale
Contributor(s): Roszkiewicz, Ron (Author)
US SRP: $24.99 US
Binding: Paperback
Copyright Date: 2009
Pub Date: May 01, 2009
Physical Info: 0.7" H x 7.9" L x 7.8" W (1.0 lbs) 160 pages
During the woodturning renaissance of the 1970's, one man emerged as the primary inspiration for scores of woodturners. His name was Bob Stocksdale. Unpretentious and extraordinarily talented, Stocksdale was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood for his functionally elegant bowls. His love for exotic timbers, his careful attention to selecting just the right piece, and his gifted use of simple tools were the trademarks that gained him celebrity status and set the standard for excellence in the contemporary wood art movement. In 1987, author Ron Roszkiewicz had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a week in Stocksdale's home workshop to hear him describe his life, work, thoughts, and opinions. With text transcribed directly from audiotapes and never-before-seen photographs, The Perfect Wooden Bowl illustrates more than just how a turning legend shapes, sharpens or finishes - it's a snapshot of an American original.
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl During the woodturning renaissance of the 1970s, one man emerged as the inspiration for scores of new woodturners. His name was Bob Stocksdale. Extraordinarily talented, Stocksdale began turning bowls in the 1940s and was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. This unique talent, combined with his gifted use of simple tools, became the trademark of his work. With pieces in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he became an unassuming celebrity who set the standard for woodturning excellence. In 1987, author Ron Roszkiewicz had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a week in Stockdale's home workshop to hear him describe his life and his work. With text transcribed directly from audiotapes and never-before-seen photographs, To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl illustrates more than just how a turning legend shapes, sharpens, and finishes-it's a snapshot of an American original. To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl also features: " Full-color gallery photos of more than 50 original pieces " Step-by-step instructions from Stocksdale on how to turn a bowl and a platter sharpen tools, sand, and finish. " Letters and newspaper excerpts from the 1950s
" An introduction from good friends, Sam Maloof "His work in bowl turning set a standard that all turners look up to today: Excellence is where you begin."-David Ellsworth, Author, Woodturning Artisan and Teacher "I have always regarded Bob Stocksdale as the consummate craftsman, the epitome of old world craftsmanship in the 'new world.'" -Mark Lindquist, Author and Renowned Wood Sculpture Artist
Review Quotes:
I have always regarded Bob Stocksdale as the consummate craftsman, the epitome of old world craftsmanship in "the new world." During the time that the studio woodturning movement was developing within American craft, Bob was already long established as a highly successful and respected professional woodturner, in a league all his own. My professional relationship with Bob began in 1978 when our work was exhibited, along with that of my father and Ed Moulthrop, in a show at the Renwick Gallery, the first exhibition of studio woodturning held by a major museum. The following year, I met Bob for the first time when The Elements Gallery in New York gave us a two-person show. It was an honor to show with him at that time as it is now to have my work appear alongside his in the collections of many museums. Bob was unphased by the new attention being focused on woodturning, and unswayed by the new generation's impatience with the traditions of craftsmanship. Throughout his long career, he maintained the same focus and pure vision, producing bowls whose form and grace hold their own against the backdrop of contemporary innovation and stylistic exploration.
"I came to know Bob and Kay during the decade I was managing del Mano Gallery and my wife and I would drive up to visit them often. In the years since, I've found that the aesthetic embraced by Bob and his fellow pioneering woodturners has given way to works that are overly tricky and clever. Although I'm a fan of a lot of the sculptural work being created today, I feel that something has been lost in the move away from fine bowl forms in beautiful woods and believe that we'll see a "neo-classical" movement in the woodturning field in the future, that celebrates Bob's aesthetic and brings balance to the field."
Review Quotes:
I have always regarded Bob Stocksdale as the consummate craftsman, the epitome of old world craftsmanship in "the new world." During the time that the studio woodturning movement was developing within American craft, Bob was already long established as a highly successful and respected professional woodturner, in a league all his own. My professional relationship with Bob began in 1978 when our work was exhibited, along with that of my father and Ed Moulthrop, in a show at the Renwick Gallery, the first exhibition of studio woodturning held by a major museum. The following year, I met Bob for the first time when The Elements Gallery in New York gave us a two-person show. It was an honor to show with him at that time as it is now to have my work appear alongside his in the collections of many museums. Bob was unphased by the new attention being focused on woodturning, and unswayed by the new generation's impatience with the traditions of craftsmanship. Throughout his long career, he maintained the same focus and pure vision, producing bowls whose form and grace hold their own against the backdrop of contemporary innovation and stylistic exploration.
"I came to know Bob and Kay during the decade I was managing del Mano Gallery and my wife and I would drive up to visit them often. In the years since, I've found that the aesthetic embraced by Bob and his fellow pioneering woodturners has given way to works that are overly tricky and clever. Although I'm a fan of a lot of the sculptural work being created today, I feel that something has been lost in the move away from fine bowl forms in beautiful woods and believe that we'll see a "neo-classical" movement in the woodturning field in the future, that celebrates Bob's aesthetic and brings balance to the field."
Contributor Bio:Roszkiewicz, Ron
Ron Roszkiewicz began his career in the woodworking industry 30 years ago with Woodcraft Supply. He became an integral figure in advancing woodturning in the United States by discovering and importing many of the innovative turning tools relied upon by woodturners today. He has also written "The Woodturner's Companion" and "The Woodturner's Art." He lives in Encinitas, California.
