Blakely Burl Tree...

[Wally Dickerman]

If you want some interesting (long) reading, check out the story about the Blakely burl tree. It involves Gary Stevens, the turner of large burls from another thread, and Mark Lindquist, a pioneer turner of large pieces.

I found the story quite fascinating.

http://blakelyburltree.com/intro.htm

A link to a short video - http://blakelyburltree.com/film_trailer.htm

Wally

[Bernie Weishapl]

Wally that is absolutely a great story and video. Thanks for sharing.

[Ken Glass]

Wally,
Great post. Thanks for the article and the video. Both were great.

[charlie knighton]

Wally,
thanks for sharing

[Baxter Smith]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[Jeff Nicol]

Wally, That is a wonderful story, and the tree is a sight to behold. I have seen some big burls and trees with lots of little burly spots but nothing like that in the USA.

Thanks for posting the story,

Jeff

[Rick Markham]

Wow, that's really very cool! It's pretty cool to see a community and artists come together over what most people would consider "just a ugly tree"
That's an amazing sight to behold, the form that he is hollowing in the end of video is really priceless looking, and the slab off the mill is spectacular!

I love working with burls (at this point only flat work) I love peoples reaction to it, especially when you tell them that it comes from a very ugly giant deformity on the side of a tree. It proves the adage that you should never judge a book by its' cover!