Described as "the biggest and best woodworking exhibition in the country" by the publisher of American Woodworker magazine, the international Design in Wood Show now averages over 300 entries. This is a significant increase from the first show in 1982 when it had forty-five beautiful juried pieces on display (see Fine Woodworking Magazine #37).

The Design in Wood Show is co-sponsored by the Del Mar Fair, 22nd District Agricultural Association and the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association (SDFWA). The talented, dedicated, and hardworking SDFWA members make this unique, popular, and award winning exhibition a success. Over one million, eighty-nine thousand people are expected to visit the fair this year and this exhibit is the standout. Now the exhibition has national sponsors, gives out awards, and nearly $12,000 in prize money to entries found in seventeen classes. The Design in Wood Show truly contributes joy, inspiration, recognition, and support to the community it serves.

In addition to the juried gallery show, which runs this year from June 16 to July 5, many other volunteer activities take place during the show. The Wood Turners Association demonstrates wood turning techniques for the fair goers. The San Diego Wood Carvers demonstrate woodcarving in their booth. The San Diego Maritime Museum demonstrates model building.

The biggest demonstration area is the 19th Century Cabinet shop staffed by the SDFWA. Here volunteer members of the largest woodworking association in the country with membership in excess of 1,400, make small oak chairs for pre-schoolers using only 19th century hand tools to shape them. The Association makes fifty chairs each year and these last-a-life-time gifts are donated to various organizations in the community such as day care centers, schools, hospitals, woman's health centers, and other charitable organizations. To date, over 500 chairs have been donated.

We would now like to invite you to enter the showcase. This is only a few of the wonderful pieces on display at the Design in Wood exhibit at the Del Mar Fair. But, before you enter the Showcase, please note that each piece listed with a price may be purchased directly from the artist. Contact the Design in Wood Office at the Del Mar Fair for more information at (619)755-1161 X2475. Regretably, those marked 'NFS' are not for sale. Also note that by clicking on the picture you may see a larger image. Enjoy the Show...