It was a delight to be invited to the opening of “Beyond Ordinary” at the Sturt Gallery in Mittagong and to hear the introductions delivered by the Head of Sturt, Kristie Phelan and Lucy Turnbull AO. Both spoke eloquently about elevating the profile of women makers in wood and the non-linear paths that we follow these days. Most of the makers whose work was on exhibition had morphed themselves from one profession to another. Looking back, I can count on one hand the makers I know who had direct paths to becoming professional woodworkers and toolmakers. Most of us make a living and dive into woodwork as a release for our creative drives. Evan Dunstone was a pilot before he put his flying gloves in the drawer and took up woodwork, Terry Gordon was a navigator in the RAAF and took an early retirement to follow his dream to become a toolmaker. Most of us get the woodworking bug and slowly replace the furniture in our homes with stuff we have made with our own hands. Very few end up being able to make a living building bespoke furniture.
In this issue I got to profile my friend and neighbour, Stu Dennis, spending time with him on his balcony and watching him transform a billet of high carbon steel into a knife was a delight. Making things with your own hands, transforming materials into useful and beautiful objects is a meditative experience. Just you, your tools and the project at hand. All the worries of the world melt away and you are in your own creative zone.

Download from:

NitroFlare

• All About History Story of Silk Road – 3rd Edition, 2022
• 101 Greatest Heritage Sites – 2nd Edition, 2022