Jacaranda Festival – Competition Entries now open!

The 2022 Jacaranda Festival Woodwork Display is on again.

The Competition Section is open to all woodworkers. Members of other woodworking clubs are especially welcome. Categories include Furniture, Turned Articles, Small articles, Free Expression and more.

The entry form can be downloaded here or at the link below.

Maker of the Year…

Neil Cryer’s ‘Butterfly Fantasy’

The Australian Wood Review magazine is running its Maker of the Year event, with support from Carbatec and other sponsors. The event sets out to encourage talented and innovative woodworkers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world, with a prize pool of $23,000.

Neil Cryer has entered his award winning ‘Butterfly Fantasy’ – a wonderfully light and delicate turned and pierced piece. (Neil was awarded ‘Best Overall’ in the Lower Clarence Art and Crafts Festival woodwork competition).

Over the course of the event, Australian Wood Review showcases selected works from the competition entries on its Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the year.

This week, it was Neil’s entry that was chosen to be showcased via Facebook and Instagram, with the caption as follows:-

Here’s Neil Cryer’s entry: Butterfly Fantasy is “transparent in part and incredibly light in construction from the end of a heavy 400mm diameter windfall jacaranda log”.

Another recent picture of Neil’s entry to Maker of the Year.

Note that entries to the ‘Maker of the Year’ close on 5 September.

Clarence Valley Arts and Crafts Festival 2022

The Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association held its Clarence River Arts and Crafts Festival (22/23 January) after cancellations and delays. The woodworking section was well supported with a very strong and diverse range of entries.

The Clarence Valley Woodworkers dominated – both in quantity and quality of entries!

The work was judged by Bim Morton, a studio woodworker and educator of more than 30 years experience. Bim is also a co-founder of the Tree-O Gallery in Raleigh, just off the Bellingen Road. In addition to fine woodwork, Tree-O
Gallery features other arts and crafts, such as ceramics, painting and sculpture. Next time you find yourselves traveling to Coffs Harbour, take the time to visit!

Neil Cryer is rightfully pleased with his winning entry!

Neil Cryer won the prize for Best Overall with his tour de force piece ‘Butterfly Fantasy’. Everyone was drawn to this piece, and it was widely admired.

Pat Johnson’s ‘Flower Bowl’ as another wonderful piece, taking out First Prize for the Carved, Sculpted or Joined Section. Although partly turned, the real work was in the detailed carving around the rim and underneath. The piece was made from a stunning piece of curly Mango.

Steve Dodd’s wonderful ‘Musical Bench’ took second place in the Carved, Sculpted or Joined Section. The choice of timbers, the design of the piece and the execution were outstanding.

First Prize in the Turned Section went to Roy Ellery for this beautiful ‘Leafed Bowl’. It was no surprise that this piece sold very quickly. The judge had no problem selecting this piece, and he noted the form and the beautiful finish on the inside of the bowl.

Pat Johnson’s ‘Grinders’ in ebony and jacaranda took second place in the turned section.