Three Vessels – 44.39084º N, 73.27607º W

These three vessels came out of a “Forest to Bowl” partnership between the Shelburne Craft School and Shelburne Farms. Having identified a tree that needed to come down as part of their forest management plan (an invasive Norway maple), the Shelburne Farms woodlands team met with a group from the craftschool to learn about the history of the Farms and some of the factors the team needs to consider as they manage the forest resource through a changing climate (habitat, carbon sequestration, recreation, new growth, diversification…), and to fell the the tree. By that afternoon, several students had turned their first bowls from sections of the tree’s trunk, and many more have followed over the next several months. Thanks to Dana Bishop (Woodlands Manager) and Tre McCarney (Director of Community Programs) for helping make this collaboration work.

When breaking down the log for bowl blanks, some cutoffs are left that are too small or have the wrong grain orientation for bowls. Rather than relegate them to the Craft School’s pizza oven I have used several for vase forms like these or passed them on to spoon carvers or others who could make good use of such beautiful wood.

The vessels were turned on a wood lathe – first shaping the exterior and then hollowing to a consistent wall thickness using long curved tools able to reach inside the small opening of the spinning form. After turning, each piece received a slightly different treatment:

The smallest diameter piece, which included an area of decay from minor damage sustained as the tree grew, was turned thin while still green and allowed to warp as it dried.

The largest diameter piece was turned to final thickness while still green and then immediately charred with a torch. The burning process converts the curl figure in the wood from a purely visual feature (as in the other two vessels) to a tactile one, as the undulating fibers burn at different rates.  Any loose ash or charcoal is brushed away, burnishing the surface.  (The unburned interior was painted with matte acrylic.)

The final piece (medium diameter) was turned twice. An initial rough turning to a wall thickness of about 1/2″ removed enough material for the wood to dry without cracking. The dried and warped form was then turned again to its final shape and thickness. The exterior surface was lightened with wood bleach.

All three are finished with a natural oil/wax blend, signed on the bottom, and inscribed with the coordinates at Shelburne Farms where the tree grew: 44.39084º N, 73.27607º W

All three are available for purchase (to be picked up at the conclusion of the exhibit). Contact me at adam@newcenturywoodworks.com for details.

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