Described as "“the biggest and best woodworking exhibition in the country"” by the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine, the international Design in Wood Show now averages over 400 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 cosponsored 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 1,160,000 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 $15,000 in prize money to entries found in nineteen 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 15 to July 4, 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 1,800, make small oak chairs for preschoolers 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, health clinics, shelters, and other charitable organizations. To date, over 700 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 note that by clicking on the picture you may see a larger image. Enjoy the Show...
|