First of all I believe there is a complete lack of balance in the content as far as appeal to the various interests and skill levels of the membership.
There are nine feature articles, four of these deal strictly with art and much of the content of those four have little or nothing to do with woodturning. For example, A Perfect Marriage Wood and Color contains eight photographs, six have nothing to do with woodturning. The two that do, one is a photo of Binh Pho. Now I like and admire Mr. Pho's work but why do I need to see a photo of him speaking with the Assistant Director of the Mint Museum? What is interesting or informative about that? Twirling, stepping away from bowl-ness. A photo of a Castrol oil can with a funnel and a light bulb, A photo of a galvanized bucket containing colored light bulbs, a photo of a bent nail hammered into a piece of fine furniture, a photo of two unturned blocks one sitting atop of the other Pre turned wood object, now that's truly inspiring and has me running to the shop. What exactly is the purpose of these photographs? Of what interest to a woodturner? What did these articles and photographs cost US?
Then we have the Antique piecrust crimper and a half page devoted to an apple pie recipe as well as a photo of the pie. Why? How much did WE pay for the pie recipe and photo?
Next is Tapered Mortise and Tenon, how much of it was devoted to turning? I could be mistaken but it seems that the only mention of turning is a small bit in paragraphs seventeen, eighteen and twenty. The top isn't even turned. This is an article much more suited to Fine Woodworking than the AAW Journal.What did this article cost US?
How about Faceplates, A simple solution to attachment. Two full pages with eight photographs devoted to a subject that could be covered with no photographs and two paragraphs in a Tips or Beginners section, neither of which by the way exist. How much money did WE pay for photographs of faceplates?
Finally in the Features we have John Jordan's Turned and Carved Hollow Vessel. I could never hope to be the turner that Mr. Jordan is, this criticism isn't about him but it is about the composition of the article. Forty nine photos, why? Photo on page 53 shows John's hand and shavings. Same page shows John roughing...why? Photo on same page explains that the shoulder on the wood should touch the shoulder of the chuck jaw and the photo shows how it shouldn't be.....I suppose. Page 54 "Raising a burr with a slipstone" photo...why do we need that photo? Photo on page 56...Blowing out shavings with compressed air. These photos are not instructive and are not needed to support the text. These are an example of valuable wasted space as well as a waste of OUR money. What's the purpose of a photo showing John holding a compressed air hose to the hollow form opening? While I enjoyed the text I saw no reason for so many photos, they weren't needed to support the text and took up more than half of the space. I'd rather have a 1/3 the photos and had more of John's written instruction.
Educational Opportunity Grant, eight graders introduced to woodturning. The EOG is a wonderful program and teaching youth is tremendously important but why are we looking at a photo of Linda VanGehuchten? Linda is a very talented turner and instructor but it seems to me that we should be looking at photographs of the eighth graders turning and not Linda turning.
I'm the past president of the Cape Atlantic Woodturners AAW chapter, founding member and president of the Jersey Cape Woodturners Guild, an AAW Star chapter, member of the Executive committee of the Delaware Valley Woodturners. At all of the various woodturning functions that I participate in, I constantly strive to enlist new members in the AAW. When a prospective members asks me how his or her joining will benefit them one of my answers is always "You'll receive four issues of the AAW Journal every year". On more occasions than I care to admit, the response is, "I've looked at it, there's nothing in it for me", or "Why would I want that, it's all art stuff". Looking at the current issue I'm afraid that I'd have to agree.
Where are the articles for the meat and potatoes of the AAW membership? The average, everyday turner who probably makes up 80% or more of the membership. What happened to the Bob Rosand, Nick Cook and Alan Lacer articles. Why don't WE have a Tips section? Why don't WE have at least one article every month devoted to beginner turners and another devoted to intermediate types? Do I want to read a beginners article? No, but lots of others do. If we can give space to photos of what amounts to a glue block with an X on the end, apple pie recipes, photos of apple pies, stool joinery and brightly colored furniture then how is this the AAW Journal? I'm all for articles about artistic turning, in fact I wish I had the ability to do that kind of work. But WE need balance.
The AAW Mission statement reads; The AAW is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of woodturning. Our mission is to PROVIDE EDUCATION, INFORMATION and organization to those interested in WOODTURNING.
At the annual symposium the youth turning program is always a hit. We're always seeking ways to attract and retain members. Well, use the Journal.
If the AAW is going to fulfill it's mission statement it had better provide balance in it's journal, the instrument with which it reaches the public and potential new members. When a fledgling turner picks up a journal at a newsstand (by the way Borders, a huge chain does not carry the Journal) or a chapter meeting he or she had better see something that's of interest. Based on the latest Journal, that's not happening. I applaud the plan to expand to six issues but, if they're anything like the current issue, we're in trouble.
