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Ray Allen
1930 - 2001

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".


Biography

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.

Artist's Statement

"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."


Shown below are some pictures that I took that illustrate Ray's tremendous talent.


One half of Ray's Shop


The other half

   

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.

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!

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.
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 

Ray reacts to a little constructive criticism.......

 

"The Big Bowl"

 


 

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.

 
This picture gives you an idea of the size of this bowl.  If I remember correctly it weighed 45 pounds.
Here is Ray's grandson, Aidan, standing next to the biggest candy dish he has ever seen.
 

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.

 
   

"The Other Side of Ray Allen"

This piece is the 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.

 

Three 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

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

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

Published Work

WOODWORK
Summer 1991

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

Page 2

 


All photographs, images and material contained and displayed in this website are covered by international copyright laws and may not be reproduced anywhere, distributed anywhere or posted to any newsgroup, blogs and/or forum without the express written permission of Mr. William Baumbeck.  Mr. Baumbeck is both the owner and author of all material contained in this website and, unless otherwise noted, is in line with new millennium international copyright laws.   None of the material presented in this website can be used for any purpose, no matter if this is for financial gain or not, without the express written permission of Mr. William Baumbeck.
Copyright z William Baumbeck and Arizona Silhouette Inc.

 


Arizona Association of Woodturners
Desert Woodturning Roundup 2011

February 18, 19, & 20, 2011 to be held at the

Mesa, AZ Convention Center

You will not be disappointed attending this symposium!  Make plans now.


My personal opinion...
 
I am a forty-two year resident of Yuma, Arizona.  My home town is located on the Arizona/California/Mexico border along side the Colorado River. Our country has been invaded over the past 25 years and I am no longer willing to keep my head down and not say anything for fear of offending someone.  If my personal beliefs effect my business - I'm willing to live with that.  If I have offended someone - I'm willing to live with that too.

I have lived in this great country for over 60 years and I am not going to back down from any threat directed at the United States from any threat - foreign or domestic.  As Davy Crockett may have said: "Bring em' on!" (although I think the words may have been stated it in much stronger language).  If you would like to see for yourself what this country is up against take a look at this website mexica-movement .

If you would like to help out Arizona please consider donating to our state's legal defense fund by clicking on the link below.  This is not just an Arizona problem - illegal immigration affects all of us.  Should you believe as I do and want to help out then put your money where your mouth is.  70% of us living in Arizona approve of SB1070 and we certainly appreciate your support.  Someday we might be able to financially support your state in accomplishing the same legislation Arizona passed.

$5.00, $10.00 and $20.00 donations are most welcome.  Thank you for your consideration.

Update July 29, 2010   We are not giving up!

Click here to contribute to the Arizona state legal defense fund
(This link will take you to the official State of Arizona legal defense fund website)



The Legacy Foundation

Border Sheriffs
"Defending Those Who Defend Our Borders"

The Legacy Foundation is a non-partisan organization recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization does not support or endorse candidates for election. Contributions or gifts to The Legacy Foundation are tax-deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes to the fullest extent permitted by law. You will not receive any good or service in exchange for any contribution.




Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
Jesus Christ and the American G.I.
One died for your soul and the other for your freedom.

By Danielle   "A proud Army wife"
 

 
A friend sent me the following:
 

What is a Veteran?   A "Veteran" -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of up to and including his or her life.

Semper Fi!  (1965-1974)

 
Operation Komando
 


Until they all come home...


 
 

Freedom Alliance
Supporting the continued education of children whose parents were killed in the line of Duty.
 
Lt. Colonel Oliver North, Founder and Honorary Chairman
 

The Mission of Freedom Alliance is to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense.

Freedom Alliance , a 501(c)3 educational and charitable foundation, was founded in 1990 by Lt.Col Oliver L. North, who now serves as the organization's honorary chairman. We will work to "keep America strong, keep America prosperous, and keep America free," said North upon the founding of Freedom Alliance. And so we have.
 


It was 113 here yesterday....
   
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.  He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.  When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?''  This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.  'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'  The man gestured, and the gate began to open.  'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.  'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.  As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.  'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'  'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.' 'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog. 'There should be a bowl by the pump.'  They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.  The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.  'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.  'This is Heaven,' he answered. 'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.' 'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell.'  'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?' 'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.' 

Author unknown but I've been told that this story was presented in an episode of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone".