| Q:
Okay we know you like it, but how did
you get into woodworking?
A: I
had always played around with wood when I was
a little tacker.
Q:
Who are your woodworking heroes/gods/gurus?
A: At
school I was guided by books that featured work
quite different to the standard. The biennial
Design Book by Taunton Press, then
Design Book Two. These books contained
images of the most innovative work being made
in wood at that time. My teacher was attracted
to this stuff and shared that inspiration with
his students. Incidentally, he gave me a copy
of the first biennial book as a gift when I
left Macleod High. Little did I know that my
work would appear in the seventh version of
the same book.
At that same time my teacher drew my attention
to a guy with a funny Japanese name, Nakashima…
One of the first ‘wood’ books I
owned was The Soul of a Tree about
the work of George Nakashima—some of the
most beautiful work you could imagine. So innovative
and pure. In 2004, whilst in Philadelphia on
a scholarship I was able to visit the Nakashima
Estate. It was my version of a pilgrimage!
Q:
What do you mainly make?
A:
Mainly turned work but I love to experiment.
I feel my early work was quite calculated and
balanced—it had an almost mathematical
aspect to it. For many years I’ve tried
to loosen up and break free of the circular
nature of the lathe. I love the loose nature
of African works.
Q:
Your thoughts on traditional vs ‘new’
and digital?
A:
To me ‘traditional’ is about work
from cultures with a long established history,
hence I love to learn about what has contributed
to this style. Is it based on religion, environment,
materials available in that particular part
of the world, or anything else? I believe ‘tradition’
is fundamental, as it gives us a foundation
to build upon, but we need to challenge it to
push the boundaries. We must not, however, insult
the past when we work toward the future!
Q:
What are your pet woodworking hates?
A:
Hand sanding!!
Q:
What is your desert island hand tool/
machine/ timber/ woodie book?
A:
A camera because I find endless forms of inspiration
in situations that are new to me. Most often
they provide me with imagery that I use in new
works, or imagery I can use with students.
Q:
The best thing you’ve ever made?
A:
I’m still hoping to make it.
Q:
Your best excuse for not getting something
quite right?
A:
I once read a business card that said ‘I
meant to do that’. Maybe that’s
the best way to explain a mistake that went
right.
Q:
Your most often-made mistake?
A:
Taking on that extra job just because I don’t
want to die wondering.
Q:
Your biggest woodworking disaster!!?
A:
Don’t have a major disaster, but how often
do we take on something, or make something that
seemed to be a good idea at the time?
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about wood is….
A:
Not my desire but that of the cleaner who looks
after my room at school. He’d love to
find dust-free wood or a laser saw that would
make his job easier. Mind you he’s also
told me that if my students didn’t make
a mess, he’d be out of a job!! Another
idea he had was to take students to the local
IKEA shop where they could buy anything they
like, assemble it and take home a fully resolved
product that did not require him to clean anything
up. He figures it would also make my job easier.
We just have to figure out how to fit it into
the syllabus!
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about woodworkers is….
A:
Those people who price their work on a hobby
basis and don’t value their skill and
time correctly.
Q:
The thing I would most like to change
about my own woodworking is….
A:
To think outside the circle, break free of my
natural desire to make things neat and balanced.
It still needs to be free and loose.
Q:
My final word on woodwork is…
A:
Find something that you enjoy doing, and then
do it! Don’t do it if it doesn’t
lead to personal satisfaction. That’s
most probably the same for all things in life.
Write to Andrew Potocnik
at: andrewpotocnik@telstra.com |
