Local woodturners offer unique Christmas gifts

By Carrie A. Mizell

A founding member of the Bell WoodTurners, Gary Taylor can shape a 100-pound block of wood into an ornate cowboy hat that weighs just a half pound in just one week.

The Bell resident began turning wood nine years ago after picking up a small lathe at a Jacksonville flea market to make legs for a table he was constructing. Unlike other forms of woodworking, Taylor’s hobby involves the use of a lathe, which rotates the wood so that it can be cut and shaped.
Since picking up the art, Taylor has taken classes from acclaimed woodturner Dick Sing, as well as having attended the John C. Campbell Folk School. Taylor even converted an hold horse barn on his property into a wood shop and a neighboring building into a studio, which is filled with wood art he has constructed and sells throughout the year. Prices vary from $3 to $450 on his wood art as they range from stamp holders, pens, and bowls of all sizes, to cowboy hats, napkin rings, potpourri pots, earrings, Christmas ornaments and even deer calls.

Taylor turns a variety of different woods including pecan, hickory, sweet gum, sycamore, cherry and laurel oak.
“I like exotic woods,” Taylor said. “But I use a lot of local wood. Free wood is what we use the most of.”
Each July Taylor, along with the 26 other members of the Bell WoodTurners, holds a daylong community sale in Bell.
They also occasionally combine their talents to make one large woodturning project. Over the summer the club members won first place in the fantasy division of the Chapter Collaborative Challenge at the American Association of Woodturners 23rd annual symposium with their project, “Balloon Fiesta.” Over 70 percent of the club’s members participated in this project, which took six to eight months to construct. It has since been donated to the City of Albuquerque’s Civic Center. The winning plaque, picture and list of participants is proudly displayed in Taylor’s studio.
Club members gather on the last Saturday of each month to work with local 4-H members during a hands-on class that gives children the chance to learn to turn wood. Thus far, the 4-H members have made pens, bowls, stools and honey dippers.
The Bell WoodTurners meet once a month at the Bell Community Center on US 129. Their next monthly meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
On Saturday, Dec. 5 the community will have an opportunity to purchase wood art that the Bell WoodTurners have made, which will make great Christmas presents. The WoodTurners will have two tents set up at the Bell Christmas Parade.
To learn more about the wood art Gary Taylor has made, call 463-2605, or visit www.bellwoodturners.com