2021 AAW Live Benefit Auction

Solar Flare

This Friday through Saturday, July 16–17, 2020, The American Association of Woodturners will once again hold their annual symposium virtually. AAW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and craft of woodturning worldwide through education. Last year the symposium went virtual, as did pretty much all events due to the pandemic. This year it will once again be virtual. According to their website, the AAW all-online virtual event features live educational woodturning demonstrations, special interest sessions, panel discussions, live and silent auctions, an Instant Gallery, prize drawings for all the virtual attendees (you still need to register to attend), a virtual trade show, and more. Visit the AAW website for more information, a schedule of events, and session descriptions. Remember, it’s all virtual!

On Friday evening, 7:30 EST, AAW will hold their live benefit auction. Pre-auction bidding is going on now and can be viewed on their website. You don’t need to be an attendee to bid. Then on Friday, the bidding goes “live” with an auctioneer offering one piece at a time up for auction. I always get butterflies in my stomach listening to the fast talk and the infamous going once, going twice line.

Sunrise (one side)

Mike & I have two collaborative pieces in the auction. Mike turned a piece of cedar into an object I’m not exactly sure how he managed to do in one piece. I added my pyrographic design after looking at it for a good long while, thinking about my approach. The piece is 2.5" x 9" x 3.75" and I named it Solar Flare (well, actually my husband named it since I consider him my wordsmith). The other piece is a 4” x 4.75” maple hollow form, titled Sunrise. I think you can tell why from the design. The two sides of Sunrise are very different from each other.

Sunrise (opposite side)

Take a peek, place a bid! There are some beautiful and interesting items in the auctions, so take soin time to look at all the other beautiful pieces being auctioned.