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Ray Allen
1930 - 2001
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I had the privilege
of knowing Ray Allen for just fiveyears. Although short in
stature this man was a giant in the turning fraternity. He was
self-taught and he gladly shared what he had learned with others who
were interested in improving their turning ability. He accomplished
more in 13 years than most people in this craft do in a lifetime. Until
his health began to fail he worked seven days a week out in his shop
creating exceptional pieces of art. Even during our hot (and I mean
really hot) summers he would be out in his shop well before daybreak
cutting, turning and bitching it was too hot. In the winter he would
have a propane heater running and I would accuse him of being a 'Wuss'
and he would flip me the 'bird' indicating that I was still "Number 1"
and keep turning.
Ray taught me
pretty much all that I know about woodturning and when I asked Ray to
critique my work I used to refer his review as the "Ray Allen Posterior
Weight Loss Program" because he would chew your hind end off when he
found fault with my work. He was direct, not politically correct (a
definite plus) and totally dedicated in his craft.
As in any
friendship we had our good times as well as the bad but I can honestly
say that Ray was truly an inspiration to me. He taught me things that I
would have never thought of on my own and he took the time to show me
how to become a better turner. We spent many an evening over dinner at
our house, sipping Jack Daniels Black Label discussing the different
aspects of woodturning while our wives fell asleep waiting for us to
finish. I remember one evening they came over for dinner and we had
grilled some steaks and Ray really didn't have the appetite for beef.
So while Kathy, Phyllis and I enjoyed beef he had a bowl of Rice
Krispies! I also spent many evening's at his home savoring Phyllis's
culinary delights - that woman could make a chicken enchilada casserole
that would make your eyes water!
This page will be
an ongoing project. I will relate some of the funny stories about Ray
(he's gone now so I don't have to worry about him sneaking up on me to
retaliate) as well as adding some additional pictures of his creations.
I hope you enjoy this humble tribute to a man I consider "One of the
Best".
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Biography
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Ray was born on October 24, 1930 on a small farm
near Dickson, Tennessee and had two brothers and two sisters. Upon
finishing high school Ray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and, after
receiving an Honorable Discharge, became a carpenter spending the next
thirty years in the construction industry.
Ray was married to his wife Phyllis for 46 years
and was blessed with two children, four grandchildren, one
great-grandchild and a dog named Peaches.
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Artist's Statement
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"After retiring in Yuma, Arizona, I
found myself getting involved in many different enterprises but none
gave me the satisfaction I received from creating something using my
imagination and my hands. Even after spending thirty years in the
construction business I still had the desire to build something. I spent
a year and a half playing on a woodturning lathe and my desire turned
into an obsession.
In 1988 I decided to direct all of
my energy towards segmented woodturning. I had finally discovered
something that I felt I was meant to do. My inspiration came from
prehistoric through present day pottery. The elegant forms and intricate
designs presented me with the challenge I needed to recreate their
everlasting beauty in wood.
I believe that I have captured, through trial and
error, the same satisfaction in viewing a completed piece as those who
have inspired me."
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Shown below are some pictures
that I took that illustrate Ray's tremendous talent.
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One half of Ray's Shop |
The other half |
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This is one of Ray's large segmented bowl made
on a lathe that he made himself. The bowl in made from mesquite,
satinwood, Pernambuco, ebony, curly maple and holly. |
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Ray sanding as the bowl slowly turns. Sanding the inside of this
piece takes more concentration (and risk!) that one might expect!
It is like being in a cement mixer! |
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Another large segmented bowl
(mesquite, bloodwood, holly, Gabon ebony, satinwood and curly maple)
| Ray sold his home-made lathe (shown
above) and
purchased a top-of-the-line Nichols lathe which I nicknamed "The
Beast". This is one serious machine! This view shows the lower portion
of the largest bowl Ray had ever made. It is about 1/3 complete. |
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"The Big Bowl"
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This is the finished piece. There are over
7,000 individual pieces of wood in this bowl comprising
mesquite, satinwood, ebony, Pernambuco, curly maple, and holly.
This magnificent bowl was purchased by a private collector. |
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| This picture gives you an idea of the size of this
bowl. If I remember correctly it weighed 45
pounds. |
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| The pictures displayed
below show Ray and his good friend Keith Stevens, the owner
of Woodworkers Source located in Phoenix, AZ (http://woodworkerssource.net/)
examining "The Big Bowl". Keith was absolutely amazed
at the size of this piece and he had his employees come out
to view something that they would probably never see again.
Keith was also a major supplier of the woods that Ray used
in his work. The bowl was
transported in a special box that was created by Ray
utilizing a round cylinder used to mold concrete columns.
He brought me along because I had a camera and the 'muscle'
to help him move it! The top was lined with foam
rubber to protect the bowl's finish. When totally
assembled the whole package weighed close to 100 pounds.
A two inch hole was drilled into the top of the cylinder
'top' to allow air to escape when the top was placed in the
base. Twelve sheet rock screws kept the top and base
attached to one another. |
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"The Other Side of Ray Allen"
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second of two special edition series that were created by Ray before he passed away. It
measures 4 3/4" in diameter, is 3 1/2" tall and is made from mesquite,
Pernambuco, holly, curly maple and ebony. This piece is prominently
displayed in our collection of turned wood art. |
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example of different segmented pieces created by Ray. It is interesting
to note that the feathers in the platter are hundreds of individually
cut pieces of zebrawood. Turquoise stone was added to form the bonnet
around the 'face' in the center of this piece. |
Selected Exhibitions
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1999
Rings of Time: Wooden Visions for the Millennium
West Valley Art Museum;
Surprise, AZ
1998
17th Annual Design In Wood
Del Mar Fair; Del Mar, CA
1995-98
Turned Wood
Del Mano Gallery; Los Angeles,
CA
1995-98
Turned Wood Small Treasurers
Del Mano Gallery; Los Angeles,
CA
1997
"Out Of The Woods"
Tohono Chul Park; Tucson, AZ |
1997
Echoes of the Southwest
Craft Alliance; St. Louis,
Missouri
1994
Natural Exhibition of the
American Association of Woodturners
Fitchburg Art Museum;
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
1994
Redefining the Lathe Turned Object III
Arizona State University
Art Museum; Tempe, Arizona
1992
Museum Exhibition of Selected Pieces
from the Collection of Dr. Irving Lipton
Indiana University of
Pennsylvania
1990
"Woodturning: Vision and Concept II"
Arrowhead School of Arts
and Crafts; Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
Awards
1998
1st Place Woodturning, Segmented/Mixed
17th Annual Design In
Wood; Del Mar Fair; Del Mar, California
1998
Fine Woodworking Magazine
"Most Innovative Use Of Material"
17th Annual Design In
Wood; Del Mar Fair; Del Mar, California
1997
1st Place Wood
Scottsdale Art Festival;
Scottsdale, Arizona
1996
Best of Show and 1st Place Wood
Scottsdale Art Festival;
Scottsdale, Arizona
1995
Best of Show
Scottsdale Art Festival;
Scottsdale, Arizona
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1994
First Place Wood
Scottsdale Arts
Festival; Scottsdale, Arizona
1993
Best of Show
Boulder City Art Festival; Boulder City, Nevada
1993
First Place Wood
Scottsdale Art
Festival; Scottsdale, Arizona
1991
Directors Award
Southwest Arts & Crafts
Festival; Albuquerque, New Mexico
1990
Purchase Award: Best of Show - Wood Hand Formed
Festival of the Pines;
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Published Work
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WOOD MAGAZINE
February 1999
FINE WOODWORKING
December 1998
FINE WOODWORKING
October 1998
ART OF THE LATHE
by Patrick Spielman 1996
FINE WOOD WORKING DESIGN
Design Book Number 7;
1996
AMERICAN WOODTURNER
June 1995
FINE WOOD WORKING DESIGN
Photo used for entries for Design Book Number 7;
October 1995, Issue No. 114
WOODTURNING
England 1995 |
SOUTHWEST ART
May 1995
AMERICAN WOODTURNER
December 1994
AMERICAN WOODTURNER
March 1993
WOODWORK MAGAZINE
May-June 1993, Issue No. 21
FINE WOODWORKING DESIGN
Design Book Number 6;
1992
WOODWORK MAGAZINE
Summer 1991; Issue No. 10
WOODWORK MAGAZINE
Photo used for magazine advertising flyer; 1991
WOODWORK MAGAZINE
Winter 1990; Issue No. 8 |
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