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Gulf Coast Woodturners Association |
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There’s one in every crowd—at least you hope there is: the person you turn to for advice because you either respect their knowledge and judgment, or because you respect them personally…or both. They’re usually deeply involved in an organization’s activities, often directly, but just as often unobtrusively. Their demeanor is, characteristically, low-key—they don’t seek the limelight, but don’t shun it when called upon to share their talent or wisdom. There’s a label that applies to these people: leaders. We’re privileged to have one of them in our club; his name is Bill Berry. He’s not the only leader we have, of course, but most members would agree that he ranks at the head of the class.
In this vignette, we’re going to depart from our usual format of telling you about the individual being profiled and instead let him share his own story about how he became caught up, and passionate, about woodturning. * * * * * “I have been involved in woodworking all of my life. I grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana next door to the Gauthreaux family. Ole Man Gauthreaux was a master ‘Cajun’ carpenter. He and his wife had eight children, two girls and six boys. The sons were a few years older than me, and they were my mentors. When there was a project in progress at Gauthreaux’s shop, I was there. I witnessed many projects being built from a simple bookcase to a 20’ boat. What great experiences those were. “In 1989 I bought a Sears lathe, a tool I knew nothing about and didn’t need, but at a price I couldn’t afford to pass up. A few months later I attended a woodworking show at the Pasadena Convention Center. I was like a kid in a candy store…where do I start! I spent most of my time at the woodturners booth. I was awed at all the shavings flying and one guy was even turning a bowl… from firewood, no less. Wow, was I really impressed! Furthermore, the next day a woodturner by the name of Alan Lacer was doing a woodturning demonstration. I thought,’ this woodturning is really neat!’ “Over the next few weeks I was preoccupied with woodturning. I have a lathe, perhaps I should give it a try! I scavenged a large chunk of green wood from the street, and mounted it on the lathe. I saw the woodturners using a faceplate and I had a faceplate, so that’s how it was mounted. I think I used four dry wall screws. Then it was time to turn the lathe on. I don’t remember which pulley it was on, but whichever one it was, the speed was much too fast. It turned, but only for a short time and the screws let go and it rolled across the shop floor and came to rest a few feet away. Not to be outdone, I attached it to the faceplate this time with lag bolts. Now, that will hold it! I turned it on again. This time the wood stayed on the faceplate. Unfortunately, the lathe quickly headed out of the shop. I just stood dumb founded watching this piece of equipment ‘buck’ and ‘pitch.’ There was no way I was going to get close enough to the switch to turn it off. As luck would have it, as it moved across the floor it came unplugged. What a relief! It was at that point that I decided I needed help—psychiatric help for turning that thing on—but more importantly, help from the woodturning community. “While at the Woodworking Show I made the acquaintance of three Gulf Coast Woodturner members, Freeman Anderson, Bobby Bridges and Luna Ford. Freeman, at that time had a shop in Pasadena and on Sunday afternoons Bobby would usually be there. It was on one of those Sunday afternoon visits that Bobby Bridges showed me the proper way to put the tool to the wood, and that afternoon I came to know what woodturning was all about. I thought I had it mastered. Little did I know that I had just scratched the surface. I could not wait until the next woodturners meeting. Each month I learned more. I began collecting wood from the street and turned every evening after getting home from work. I had many ‘academic pieces.’ I turned platters and bowls and boxes out of green wood, only to discover that the next morning they had warped or cracked. I was not easily deterred… I just continued to turn ‘stuff.’ “In 1992 I attended the first Texas Turn or Two symposium. It was at this event that I had the privilege of seeing some of the most experienced woodturners in the state of Texas: Gary Roberts, Gene Fitzwater, James Poppel, James Johnson and of course, Luna Ford. After attending that event, I was humbled, but I still thought I knew all about woodturning. When I got home I ordered a new lathe and began turning with greater enthusiasm and determination and with new goals. In the months and years that followed, the meetings of Gulf Coast Woodturners began to take on more and more meaning and purpose. When the organization did a turning demonstration, I volunteered to come along and ‘help.’ These turned out to be some of the best opportunities for improving my skills. It was a time when I could look over the shoulder of a more experienced turner and build on my confidence. I continued to turn on a daily basis, but some of the things that I had turned back 1992 didn’t look as good to me as they did when I turned them. Ahhhh progress! I began to look at shapes that I liked and commit those shapes to memory. I learned that woodturning was not only shaping, but also included sanding and finishing, and that nicely shaped pieces that have sanding scratches and a poor finish are not really complete. “In 1994 I went to my first American Association of Woodturners symposium. From that experience, I gained an understanding of the term ‘gallery quality.’ Since that time I have tried to produce work that meets those standards. I’m pleased to admit that my turnings have been accepted by several local Houston-area galleries.
“It has now been about 15 years since I put that first piece of wood on the lathe. I will share with you this fact: I am still learning and will continue to learn about the art of woodturning. I have had some very positive experiences. I was privileged to be part of a group of GCWA turners who demonstrated woodturning at the Texas State Arts and Craft Festival in Kerrville. I have demonstrated at Texas Turn or Two (now called SWAT) on several occasions and have been part of the GCWA representatives at the Houston Woodworking Show demonstrating woodturning. It has been my pleasure to demonstrate before my peers at the monthly meetings of several Texas and Louisiana woodworking and woodturning organizations. “I guess you could say I was ‘born and raised’ in my woodturning endeavors by Gulf Coast Woodturners. I continue to attend the monthly meetings with the same enthusiasm as I did in 1990. Although I continue to learn, it is also an opportunity for me to ‘share’ what I have learned and to ‘give back’ to new turners.” * * * * * That’s Bill’s story, and it’s a good one about an individual’s personal woodturning journey. So, what more can be said about this talented turner, willing teacher and modest leader of the club? Just this: He’s earned his position of leadership and commands respect not because he asks for it, but because he gives so much without being asked.
Thanks, Bill, for all you contribute to the ongoing success of the Gulf Coast Woodturners!
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