2016 Media Release - For the Ladies #Woodturning
MEDIA RELEASE – WORKING WITH WOOD GEORGE EXHIBITION
Something for the ladies
Organisers of this year’s Working with Wood Show and Woodturning Festival to be held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Saasveld, George, August 26 -28 has ensured that there will definitely be something for the ladies.
Although woodworking has long been considered as a male dominated skill, the first woman documented as a carpenter was a Chinese woman, Lady Yun. While it is her husband Lu Ban who is recognized as an originator of the craft of woodworking, Lady Yun is said to have had a talent as great as, or greater than her husband’s.
In the Study of the Fifteenth-Century Carpenter’s Manual Lu Ban Jung, Klaas Ruitenbeek wrote: “It is hard to enumerate one by one the object she made, but if we compare them with those of the master, they may be even still more beautiful.”
This year the Show and Festival will be celebrating the involvement of women in the craft of woodworking and have secured world renowned designer, carpenter, DIY expert and TV personality, Carmen de la Paz as honoured guest.
A “hands on designer” and accomplished craftsperson, De la Paz does all of her own work, handling power tools, to create with wood, metal and glass.
She brings with her the female perspective on home improvement, power tools, design and DIY. She is currently appearing on the fifth season of the Emmy Award Winning Home Made Simple on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Most recognized for her work on HGTV – Carmen’s carpentry and design skills were featured on six seasons of the HGTV’s highly rated makeover series, Hammer Heads that garnered an Imagen Award Nomination in 2011 and 2010 for Best Reality Show. In addition to many other shows on HGTV, De la Paz appeared as one of HGTV’s celebrity carpenters on a season of highly rated HGTV’s Design Star and was a judge on Mike Holme’s All American Handy Man Competition.
She is further the global Brand Ambassador for Nova lathes. Who better to visit the Show and Woodturning Festival than the woman who represents one of the leading lathe brands? Nova is so passionate about supporting turners and woodworkers that they will be sponsoring an initiative set be launched in South Africa by De la Paz during the George Show and Festival, the Women in Turning programme (WIT).
WIT is the newest committee of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) that aims at bringing together worldwide, women who share a passion in woodturning.
This programme is dedicated to encouraging and assisting women in their pursuit of turning, to sharing ideas and processes, to further members’ skills and creativity, and to increasing participation of women in the field of woodturning.
During this year’s Festival and Show the WIT hand-on demonstrations will provide a lively, entertaining and educational experience for attendees, managed by De la Paz and assisted by other accomplished and recognised women in the field of woodturning, focusing on skill building and community development.
The public would be well-advised to keep their eye on the media to find out more about this exciting Working with Wood Show and WoodTurning Festival and the demonstrations and workshops on offer.
For information on the Association of Woodturners South Africa visit www.awsa.org.za and Women In Turning - visit their Women in Turning Facebook page.