Judging

Judging will be by the following panel over the period 15 September to 1 October 2023

Judges

  • Carl Burn

    I am fascinated by the process of making things. I make bowls and hollow forms using a mixture of traditional and modern techniques. I use timbers sourced locally from sources with responsible attitudes towards management.  My focus is on form and simplicity, using techniques to highlight and complement the natural features.

    Carl Burn
    Carl Burn Work

  • Sally Burnett

    Since discovering a passion for wood, Sally has rapidly gained an international reputation with her lathe turned and exquisitely carved vessels. Using English native timber, her decorative vessels have wide tops and small bases with elegant curves, rich in texture.

    Sally Burnett
    Sally Burnett Work

  • Ruby Cler RPT

    A professional turner living in Ontario. Although I do a lot of production and commissioned turnings, I also teach and demonstrate.  In the 40+ years of my turnings I’ve learned from many great turners.  I am always amazed by the variety of creations that can be produced from wood. 

    Ruby Cler
    Ruby Cler Work

  • Michael Fortune

    Michael is one of Canada’s most respected contemporary furniture masters, now acclaimed for his innovative designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned furnishings and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, teaching, giving lectures and workshops around the World. 

    Michael Fortune
    Michael Fortune Work

  • Stephen Hughes

    Working in Australian timbers to create decorative and sculptural works using wood turning as my primary technique. I also carve, cut, reform and use various surface treatments to embellish my woodturning.  In each piece I make I aspire to enhance the natural beauty of wood using a sensitive and masterful approach. 

    Stephen Hughes
    Stephen Hughes Work

  • Mike Mahoney

    A professional bowlmaker producing salad bowls burial urns, hollow forms, treenware, and more.  A style of work that highlights the wood sourced from local tree yards creating unique objects from wood that could not have been purchased by a sawmill. 

    Mike Mahoney
    Mike Mahoney Work

  • Richard Raffan

    Now best known as a writer and teacher, for his books, videos, magazine articles, demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and his YouTube Channel.  But in the mid-1980s he had an international reputation within the crafts movement as a turner of fine bowls, boxes, and scoops, well before woodturning became the popular hobby and aspiring art form it is today.

    Richard Raffan
    Richard Raffan Work

  • Neil Turner

    His work was components for reproduction period chairs and suites of furniture but now doing private commission work, restoration and working with the film and TV industry. He enjoys working with clients to create something that captures a special part of their lives.

    Neil Turner
    Neil Turner Work

  • Michael Walker

    Mike enjoys guiding emerging and established woodturners in exploring new ideas. He is proud to have represented New Zealand in international art symposia and his work is held in collections all over the world. His bold approach to turning allows him to find and release the potential in pieces. “If I can infect just one person with the joy and wonderment I experience as a turner then I have had a great day.”

    Michael Walker
    Michael Walker Work

  • Andi Wolfe

    A botanist by day and a part time woodturner in her spare time.  Her work has focused on surface enhancements that use botanical motifs. A botanical print motif of flowering stages of a plant, or maple or oak leaves, or inspired from cellular structures of plants. Or carving botanical designs into turnings in 3D. A goal is that avessel becomes a three-dimensional canvas.

    Angi Wolfe
    Andi Wolf Work

These judges will individually use the prescribed scoring system shown below and send their marks to the Steward.  The Steward will combine the scores to determine the winners.

Guidelines for Judging

  • Should there be any doubt about which category to place an entry in then the Senior Steward has the final decision.
  • Each item may be judged in only one class.
  • The judges should exclude from the competition any items which they deem to be unfit due to technical or artistic faults.
  • Any stand used to support the item will be deemed to be part of the item and judged along with the item.
     
  • All entries received will be judged using the following criteria – each criterion being scored out of 10 points:
  1. First impressions – visual impact.
  2. Design, innovation, ingenuity, originality.
  3. Form, proportion, balance and use of material.
  4. Creation techniques and skill level.
  5. Suitability and quality of finish.
  • The judges will score each piece individually and points allocated will be aggregated to give a final points score.
  • The scores recorded by the judges shall be available to entrants for the items they have entered in the competition.
  • A first, second and third prize, and “Highly Commended” certificates may be awarded in each category.
  • In the event that insufficient entries are received for a specific category OR the judge(s) deem the standard is not high enough, the judge(s) reserve the right not to award prizes.
  • The items gaining the highest score in each category shall be reconsidered by the judges for the “Supreme Exhibit” award.  In the event that more than one item has an equal highest score then the judges will re-evaluate the scores to declare one item “Supreme Exhibit”.  
  • The judge’s decision is FINAL.