The Forest Heritage Center Museum and Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry will kick-off the annual fall exhibit, “Masters at Work” with a competitive flair. The turning competition will be held September 13th – 14th, 2013 in the courtyard of the Museum. Artists will arrive with a piece of wood, their lathe and tools and let their creativity take over as they turn the wood into a beautiful work of art.
“The Forest Heritage Center Museum has been working diligently towards increasing awareness of 
woodturning as an art form,” said Doug Zook, FHC program director. “By implementing a competitive twist and showcasing the work of premier woodturners from across the region, we hope to bring the art form to an even greater level.”
After the intensive application process that encompassed clubs from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Tennessee and Missouri, five woodturning clubs have been chosen to compete.
The participating clubs and designated competitors in 2012 included:
- Texoma Woodturners: Richard Duval, Mead, OK
- Ark-La-Tex Woodturners: Donald Barfield, New Boston, TX
- Southeast Oklahoma Woodturners: Marion McDaniel, Dallas, TX
- Central Oklahoma Woodturners: Wayne Furr, Norman, OK
- River Valley Woodturners: Hayes Copeland, Sallisaw, OK
In addition to the main competition, other club members are able to partake in various hour long turning competitions at 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. These “mini” competitions, sponsored by the Southeast Oklahoma Woodturners will present an opportunity for other members to prosper while providing an added bonus for guests to witness the diverse woodturning talents.
All this will take place as gallery visitors seize the opportunity to interact with the artists as they compete. When the bell tolls, signaling the competition is over, judges will evaluate the techniques, artistry and craftsmanship to award the prestigious blue ribbon to the winning artists on Sunday, September 15th , 2013 at 1:00 
p.m. during the opening reception. The turnings created during the competition will be added to the Forest Heritage Center’s permanent wood art collection and be on display until October 20th in the Wood Art Gallery.
This year's woodturning competition will also coincide with an Art Retreat & Outdoor Painting Workshop: "Capturing Nature's Beauty," giving visitors and participants the chance to watch some serious lathe wrangling in between brush strokes. “Capturing Nature’s Beauty” is available for adult beginners or advanced painters on
Friday & Saturday. For more information click the link above, visit www.ArtLessonsWithJamie.com or Jamie Carter at 903-674-2018 to register.
"As the Wood Art Capital of Oklahoma, the Forest Heritage Center Museum
makes a perfect venue for this type of art experience," stated Doug
Zook, FHC Museum director."This should be an exciting weekend for all ages while showcasing the unique form of wood art."
Exhibit Open to the Public: September 13th - October 20th,
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday,
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. & Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m
For more information contact the Forest Heritage Center Museum at 580-494-6497 (office), 405-249-9612 (cell) or click to email the museum.
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