A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection

Media - 2003.60.2 - SAAM-2003.60.2_3 - 128176

Derek A. Bencomo, Hana Valley, First View, from the "Peaks and Valleys Series", 1995-1997, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Fleur and Charles Bresler in honor of Kenneth R. Trapp, curator-in-charge of the Renwick Gallery (1995--2003)

A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection celebrates the magnificent gift of sixty-six pieces of turned and carved wood to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the noted collectors, Fleur and Charles Bresler. Works by some of the best-known wood artists in the United States highlight the expressive capacity of craft’s most organic material, and display wood turning’s growing sophistication. Nearly half of the artworks in the exhibition are on public display for the first time.

Description

Masterpieces by the field's pioneers, including David Ellsworth, William Hunter, Mark and Melvin Lindquist, Edward Moulthrop, and Rude Osolnik, demonstrate the extraordinary range of expression achievable on the lathe, the medium's foundational tool. Compelling recent works by Ron Fleming, Michelle Holzapfel, Hugh McKay, Norm Sartorius, Mark Sfirri, and many others reveal the advent of new techniques, including multi-axis turning, the incorporation of secondary materials, and a strong focus on carving. The Bresler collection illustrates these evolving techniques and aesthetics, which has led to increased use of the term ""wood art"" rather than ""wood turning"" to describe the medium. Nicholas R. Bell, curator at the Renwick Gallery, organized the exhibition.

Visiting Information

September 23, 2010 January 30, 2011
Open Daily, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m
Free Admission

Credit

A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection is organized and circulated by the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Windgate Charitable Foundation generously supported the publication. The James Renwick Alliance contributed generously to the film, exhibition, and public programs. The Collectors of Wood Art provided funding for the exhibition.

Online Gallery

Media - 2003.60.1 - SAAM-2003.60.1_1 - 58027
Double Lotus
Date1995
myrtle
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.3 - SAAM-2003.60.3_1 - 58029
Bowl
Date1996
cherry
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.5 - SAAM-2003.60.5_1 - 58181
96 – 4
Date1996
cristobal and chipboard
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.6A-B - SAAM-2003.60.6A-B_1 - 58191
First Gold Box
Dateca. 1996
14k gold
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.7A-C - SAAM-2003.60.7A-C_1 - 60627
Ode to Today
Date1993
ebony, 18k gold, pearls, and imperial topaz
Not on view
Media - 2002.66A-B - SAAM-2002.66A-B_1 - 62346
On the Edge Naturally
Date1990
kingwood burl, 18k gold, and mother-of-pearl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.8A-B - SAAM-2003.60.8A-B_1 - 68156
Lidded Jar
Date1996
Alaska diamond willow and willow burl, mahogany, fossil mammoth tusk, fossil walrus tusk, fossil bone, moose antler, brass, copper, and sterling silver
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.9 - SAAM-2003.60.9_2 - 119028
Decorative Top
Date1999
pink ivory
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.11 - SAAM-2003.60.11_1 - 60630
Mo’s Delight
Date1993
white oak
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.10 - SAAM-2003.60.10_1 - 58182
Patan, from the Solstice Series”
Date1991
ash and metallic fabric paint
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.12 - SAAM-2003.60.12_1 - 58031
Sundown Pot
Date1995
curly silver maple
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.13 - SAAM-2003.60.13_1 - 58032
Mesquite Basket
Date1998
mesquite
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.14 - SAAM-2003.60.14_1 - 60631
Desert Rose
Date1996
madrone burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.17 - SAAM-2003.60.17_1 - 58113
Prairie Fire
Date1996
pink ivory
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.15 - SAAM-2003.60.15_2 - 118254
Red Fern
Date1995
box elder
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.20 - SAAM-2003.60.20_1 - 58494
Autumn Vase
Date1993
sugar maple burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.21 - SAAM-2003.60.21_1 - 58115
Suspended Ring Vase
Date1996
spalted sugar maple burl
Not on view
Media - 1999.8A-J - SAAM-1999.8A-J_1 - 68802
Table Bracelet: Promenade Suite
Date1997
maple, birch, cherry, and brass
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.18 - SAAM-2003.60.18_1 - 58035
Untitled
Date1986
maple burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.19 - SAAM-2003.60.19_1 - 58037
Untitled
Date1986
cherry burl
Not on view
Media - 1998.11.2 - SAAM-1998.11.2_1 - 56224
Ringed Series”
Date1993
mulberry
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.23 - SAAM-2003.60.23_3 - 119034
Ringed Series”
Date1993
sycamore
Not on view
Media - 1998.11.1 - SAAM-1998.11.1_1 - 56270
Sphere
Date1988
Arizona ash
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.22 - SAAM-2003.60.22_1 - 60135
Suspended Sphere
Date1994
sycamore
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.27A-C - SAAM-2003.60.27A-C_1 - 61276
Africa
Date1990
satinwood, ebony, 24k gold, sterling silver, fine silver, enamel, and rutilated quartz
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.26A-C - SAAM-2003.60.26A-C_1 - 68158
Evening Blossom
Date1989
ebony, 24k gold, sterling silver, enamel, amethyst, and charoite
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.24 - SAAM-2003.60.24_1 - 60551
Golden Shell
Date1994
satinwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.28 - SAAM-2003.60.28_1 - 58193
Coiled Snake
Date1997
boxwood with gold and antique gold powder and cyanoacrylate
Not on view
Media - 2006.32 - SAAM-2006.32_1 - 71726
Untitled (Studies for Coiled Snake)
Date1996
graphite on paper
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.29 - SAAM-2003.60.29_1 - 58118
Untitled
Date1997
Honduras mahogany
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.30A-C - SAAM-2003.60.30A-C_1 - 66436
Top Secrets II
Date1994
pink ivory and ebony
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.31 - SAAM-2003.60.31_2 - 60138
Self-Portrait
Date1992
box elder
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.32 - SAAM-2003.60.32_1 - 58194
Integration
Date1992
maple and African blackwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.33 - SAAM-2003.60.33_1 - 58120
Armored Crab
Date1998
kingwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.34 - SAAM-2003.60.34_3 - 119393
Ascending Bowl 1992‑I
Date1992
walnut
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.35 - SAAM-2003.60.35_1 - 63619
Vase with Duckbill Handle
Date1991
manzanita burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.36A-B - SAAM-2003.60.36A-B_1 - 60552
Bottiglia Barrocco
Date1994
rosewood burl, ebony and brass
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.37A-B - SAAM-2003.60.37A-B_1 - 60632
Carob Jar #192
Dateca. 1993
carob, ebony, and bloodwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.38 - SAAM-2003.60.38_1 - 58195
Large Bowl
Date1991
black walnut, lacewood, and padauk
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.39 - SAAM-2003.60.39_1 - 58124
Morata
Date1997
madrone burl and pipestone
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.40 - SAAM-2003.60.40_1 - 58041
Canyon Oasis #4
Date1995
redwood root burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.41 - SAAM-2003.60.41_1 - 58044
Donut Bowl
Dateca. 1990
maple
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.44A-E - SAAM-2003.60.44_1 - 58126
Five Candlesticks
Date1988
mascassar ebony
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.42 - SAAM-2003.60.42_1 - 60579
Bowl
Date1983
walnut
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.43 - SAAM-2003.60.43_1 - 60139
Bowl
Date1984
spalted maple
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.46 - SAAM-2003.60.46_1 - 58128
Bird House
Date1994
madrone
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.45 - SAAM-2003.60.45_1 - 60140
Mesa, from the Landscape Series”
Date1993
locust and india ink
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.47 - SAAM-2003.60.47_1 - 68159
Untitled
Dateca. 1996
Gabon ebony
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.48A-C - SAAM-2003.60.48A-C_1 - 58495
Algerita Family
Date1998
algerita burl
Not on view
Media - 2000.15 - SAAM-2000.15_1 - 60484
Mutation
Date1999
Mexican blue oak burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.49 - SAAM-2003.60.49_1 - 58496
Obsession
Date1998
maple
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.50 - SAAM-2003.60.50_1 - 58130
Pita Bread Spoon
Date1994
amboyna burl
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.51 - SAAM-2003.60.51_1 - 63621
Spear Spoon
Date1997
African blackwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.52A-D - SAAM-2003.60.52A-D_1 - 60424
Zig Zag Bottle
Date1993
African blackwood and boxwood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.53 - SAAM-2003.60.53_1 - 62042
Petrified Hopi Basket – Second Mesa
Date1993
guatambu, wenge, bloodwood, and lacewood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.54A-B - SAAM-2003.60.54A-B_1 - 60197
Petrified Sewing Basket
Date1995
cherry, wenge, and imbuia
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.55A-B - SAAM-2003.60.55A-B_1 - 60261
Hummingbird Box
Date1996
box elder, rose thorns, locust, trifoliate orange thorns, laurel root, hazelnut husks, india ink, and lacquer
Not on view
Media - 1998.137 - SAAM-1998.137_1 - 68153
Glancing Figure
Date1997
walnut
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.56A-F - SAAM-2003.60.56A-F_1 - 60262
Rejects from the Bat Factory
Date1996
mahogany, curly maple, cherry, zebrawood, cocobolo, and lacewood
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.59 - SAAM-2003.60.59_2-000001 - 120127
Monterey Pinecone Vase #602
Date1991
Monterey pine with epoxy resin
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.58 - SAAM-2003.60.58_1 - 60553
Protea Blossom Vase #705
Date1994
Queen Protea blossom with epoxy resin
Not on view
Media - 2003.60.57 - SAAM-2003.60.57_1 - 58132
Satinwood Bowl #458
Date1989
satinwood, purpleheart, and bloodwood
Not on view

Artists

Media - portrait_image_113293.jpg - 90208
David Ellsworth
born Iowa City, IA 1944

David Ellsworth received his MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1973. Eight years earlier, he had studied architecture for a year at Washington University, St. Louis.

Ron Fleming
born Oklahoma City, OK 1937-died Boyd, TX 2021

Ron Fleming is a native of Oklahoma. He is a professional illustrator as well as a woodturner. He's received many awards for his work including the Grand Prize in the 1991 American Crafts Awards.

Media - holzapfel_michelle.jpg - 90027
Michelle Holzapfel
born Woonsocket, RI 1951

Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Michelle Holzapfel studied at Marlboro College, Vermont, from 1969 to 1970 and from 1993 to 1995 at Vermont College and Norwich University in Vermont, where she earned a B.A. degree.

William Hunter
born Long Beach, CA 1947

Born in Long Beach, California, William Hunter earned a B.A. degree in 1972 at California State University at Dominguez Hills. With the purchase of a woodturning table in 1969, he undertook this work as an untutored amateur.

Media - lindquist_mark_1.jpg - 90062
Mark Lindquist
born Oakland, CA 1949

In the early 1970s, Mark Lindquist and his father, Melvin Lindquist, popularized the use of "spalted" (partially decomposed) wood that is characterized by intricate patterns of brown and black lines.

Media - lindquist_mark_and_melvin.jpg - 90063
Melvin Lindquist
born Kingsburg, CA 1911-died Quincy, FL 2000

Melvin Lindquist pioneered the use of spalted wood in turned vessels. The fine black lines and blemishes result from the spread of bacteria and mineral deposits in the drying wood.

Hugh E. McKay
born Long Beach, CA 1951
Media - moulthrop_ed.jpg - 90094
Edward Moulthrop
born Rochester, NY 1916-died Atlanta, GA 2003

Born in Cleveland, Edward Moulthrop earned a B.A. degree in architecture in 1939 at Case Institute of Technology and an M.F.A. at Princeton University in 1941.

Media - osolnik_rude.jpg - 90105
Rude Osolnik
born Dawson, NM 1915-died Berea, KY 2001

Considered to be one of the fathers of contemporary wood turning in America, Rude Osolnik is something of a folk hero. Working in Kentucky, he creates robust forms from a variety of woods.

Media - sartorius_norm.jpg - 90528
Norm Sartorius
born Salisbury, MD 1947

Norm Sartorius left his job as a social worker in Baltimore in the 1970s to live in rural West Virginia. He apprenticed to a woodworker for six months and learned to carve letter openers, shoehorns, canes, and spoons.

Mark Sfirri
born Chester, PA 1952