Text and photo by Skip Wilbur
The countdown to the big day is on, it’s time to bring some artistic festive magic into your home with a highly prized Christmas ornament. Putting up your tree and decorating your home is all about creating a joyful and uplifting space that will get you in the holiday spirit. In this spirit, the Mid-South Woodturning Guild (MSWG) is proud to present a unique collaborative Christmas ornament crafted by three of its members, Skip Wilbur, Larry Sefton and Rick Cannon.
The genesis of this artistic project started during a sold-out standing room only demonstration by Skip Wilbur at the annual Octoberfest for MSWG. Skip meticulously crafted the globe portion from a century year-old cherry tree harvested from the estate of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States.
The globe then passed to Larry Sefton, a renowned pyrographer known for his “writing with fire” technique. Larry’s unique style involves burning intricate designs onto the wood, creating a highly textured and three-dimensional art form. The wire tips Larry uses are made of nichrome, an alloy of nickel and chromium, add a touch of mystery and elegance to his creations. Larry is secretive about the source and composition of the wire, only to say the chromium material is mined from a mine in northern Russia. “I craft original, handmade heirloom pieces to last for generations. I have been attracted to the idea of pyrography as an art since I was a child.”
The globe was then passed to Rick Cannon, a celebrated artist who has showcased his work in numerous symposiums, including the AAW symposium. Rick employs a dry brush technique that excels at highlighting the details and emphasizing textures. Only the finest quality acrylic paint is used giving a depth and dimension that truly captivates. Rick uses natural hair brushes made from sable which offer superior softness and flexibility for a smooth application. Unconfirmed reports are that the sable used in his brushes comes from eastern Kazakhstan raised on an open range ranch and fed only natural foods. “My pieces attempt to join the joy of wood with color to create bold, bright, daring and one-of-a-kind pieces.”
The final step in this project was for Skip to complete the finial. Skip collaborated with a finial engineering service to design this unique contemporary piece. Crafted from African Blackwood, also known as the “woodwind instrument” wood, this wood has faced a decline due to population growth, overharvesting and poor management. “Years ago, on a highly classified military mission to southeastern Zimbabwe, I managed to confiscate a small amount of blackwood conceal it within the liner of my duffel bag, bypassing Customs and Agriculture. I waited patiently for an opportunity to use it on a special project when this unexpected event happened.”
This collaborative Christmas ornament is a testament to the camaraderie and talent among MSWG members. Each member has contributed their unique skills to create a one-of-a-kind piece that will be cherished for generations to come.
The ornament was then loaned to the London Craft Fair, a celebration of craftsmanship that highlights the creative talents behind some of the world’s most beautiful art. This year it welcomed over 2 million visitors. During its presence at the London Craft Fair, it caught the attention of curators from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian Institute. Notably, the Smithsonian expressed interest in purchasing this ornament and displaying it in the same vaulted room as the Hope Diamond. However, the MSWG Board of Directors rejected this offer stating, “This ornament was crafted by members of MSWG and should be offered to them at our annual Christmas auction.”
This ornament has since garnered the attention of Elon Musk, who desires to adorn a floating zero-gravity Christmas tree and send it to the International Space Station via SpaeX before Christmas. The Board of Directors has accepted a sealed offer from Elon Musk and will reveal his offer after the normal bidding process concludes. I wish you the best in your bids.
To see more items donated for our 2024 Holiday Auction, please click on the link below.