National Woodworking Gallery

[namtrak]

Is there one?

On a recent visit to Canberra I had the opportunity to do a couple of interesting things.

One was to visit the National Gallery, which along the National Museum, Parliament House, War Memorial etc - is a very fine institution. However the paucity of timber work there was startling. There were some period pieces which were there more for their age than their quality and that was about it.

So with that in mind, the second interesting thing, was a visit to the workshop of a friend of my Canberra in-laws. And that was truly eye-opening . This guy is without doubt producing the best marquetry work, in boxes in particular that I have ever seen (online included). His work with opal and gold features in boxes was stunning!! However, what was equally stunning was his 'dissatisfaction' with the general state of the woodworking industry. He has little interest in passing his skills onto others, because of the number of 'weekend woodworkers' that he comes across that reckon they can produce a box like he can for $100 as opposed to the $4000 plus he is charging for his. This coupled with the competition from Chinese laser work, and the general lack of interest in "paying for quality" seems to have really disheartened the bloke. And now he is moving away from creating what I see as pure masterpieces and working more on restoration work. So now the industry is facing the possibility of losing this extravagent skill set for good.

And that brings me to the idea of a National Woodworking Museum/Gallery. Sure there are thousands of galleries around the country, all struggling to sell pieces to a very small market. But where is the organisation that is:

cataloging the history of woodworking in Australia?
cataloging the history of timber in Australia?
highlighting contemporary work?
preserving the skill sets of people such as my new found friend?
sponsoring people such as my mate?
skilling up the new 'apprentices' in the industry?
etc

As far as I can tell there is a hotch potch of organisations providing some of these to some people some times, but I believe there is a need for a single national body to coordinate and display the work, skills and history of Australia's wood workers!

Anyone?

PS. For those that are interested, I am going to preserve the indentity of the woodworker in question, as I am not sure that he would appreciate being the centre of a discussion.

[silentC]

I suppose it all comes down to two things: money and politics. The government supposedly provides finance for this sort of thing in the form of grants, but naturally the money goes to where they think it will have the most positive affect on the community's perception of how great a job they are doing. Unfortunately, I really can't see them looking to woodworkers and admirers of woodwork to win the next election.

The only other quarter from which funding could come is private investment. There are probably only two types of investor: philanthropic ones who are willing to fund something for the kudos, tax benefits, or purely the love of it; and the ones who want to make some money. The latter generally don't invest in museums and the like because they are difficult to run at a profit.

Probably the best you could do would be to lobby to have the woodworking department at the National Gallery expanded - but again it's all about the trade off between wanting to display and preserve everything and the available funds. Or find a rich woodworker.

[echnidna]

There certainly are Philanthropic organisations who may be interested in the subject.

Do you advocate one single gallery or one gallery in each state?

Would such galleries have an arts qualified curator? or someone with a definable backgound in woodwork.

[namtrak]

......Unfortunately, I really can't see them looking to woodworkers and admirers of woodwork to win the next election......

.......Or find a rich woodworker.......

Actually I suspect that the woodworking lobby group within Australia could be quite powerful, if it got it's collective vision together.

A 'rich woodworker' is that an oxy moron? Or am I thinking of metal workers?

There certainly are Philanthropic organisations who may be interested in the subject.

Do you advocate one single gallery or one gallery in each state?

Would such galleries have an arts qualified curator? or someone with a definable backgound in woodwork.

I was thinking along the lines of a single national gallery. I can't think of an existing example to highlight what I am talking about, but I am sure there are such things in the world somewhere?

And I would have thought you would be looking at an arts qualified curator with a background in woodwork. I wouldn't think it is never the twain shall meet, although there is of course the dichotomy between theory and practice.

[BrettC]

Namtrak,

I wholeheartedly agree with your idea and would love to access to a woodworking museum like you suggest - and why not Canberra? Would be a great travel destination for woodies to have a look in Capital followed by a look down the road at the Bungendore wood gallery which is probably one of the finest in Oz.

I do though have some issue with your friends observations on 'week-end woodies' who think they can produce a box for $100 as opposed to his $4,000 masterpeices. It's disappointing that he feels this way. I would say So what?, if he is happy doing what he's doing then great and if he is prepared to tackle the top level of the market then good for him. If someone like me wants to produce a box on the great learning curve of this trade/hobby and sell for $100 (not that I do) then fine, isn't that my decision? Why should he bemoan this? I think he is underestimating the buying public.

Quality will always demand top $$$ and it's a shame that he feels this way - perhaps he should be looking further afield and more selectively at his clientelle. Sounds like it would be a great loss of skill not to pass this on but each to his own.