CMW Annual Auction

President John Hill, sporting an elegant top hand (turned by Chris Ramsey), capitalized on his great sense of humor, tenacity and enthusiasm to take in a little more than $16,000 with more than $7,000 accruing to the benefit of Carolina Mountain Wood-turners. All previous records were broken, including the hours it took to auction almost everything that was available. The bidding started a little after 10AM and concluded at 4:20 in the afternoon.

The auditorium at the Folk Art Center became a candy store for woodturners at the third annual auction. Tables were filled with hundreds of pieces of wood from Ash to Yew and exotics from Africa and Australia. One would have thought it was a wood auction but there were tools, shop equipment, antique planners, motors, hand tools, as well as lathes, to be had by the highly motivated bidders.

The day got off to a very exciting start with the much anticipated auctioning of the special pieces donated by CMW’s guest demonstrators from the past eleven months. Tradition has it that the demonstrator generously donates the piece(s) turned during their daylong presentation. Charles Farrar, Willard Baxter, Bobby Clemons, Tom Crabb, Mike Mahoney, Jim McPhail, Ray Key, Ron Fleming, David Ellsworth, Jean-Francois Escoulen and Michael O’Donnell donated one or more items for the event. The bidding was most competitive and the successful bidders went home with a specially turned piece that will greatly enhance their private collections. Very few people will find themselves in a situation where they can actually pay such a nominal amount of money for such extra-ordinarily valuable pieces of art.

There were many items, including gift certificates from Cormark International and Craft Supplies that had been donated for the monthly raffle. Since CMW will no longer be able to have the raffle, those items were added to the hundreds of items that were auctioned.

Great appreciation to all those who worked hard all day to make this event the success that it was. Warren Carpenter, Bill Pate, Lloyd Rothouse, Dan Gottlieb, Bill Davin, Jack Edmonston, Ray Jones, Don Rose and Janet Konchar were among those who worked as a well-coordinated team, giving John Hill assistance.

This was the most financially successful, well-organized and best-staffed auction we have had. It bodes well for next year.

-Pat McPhail