Where’s Summer?

We’re a little over a week away from the end of Summer, and we’re still waiting for warm weather. While other parts of the country are still roasting, Santa Cruz has been under a cloud of fog since June. The few sunny days we’ve had were barely in the 70s.

Usually, during the Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour in October, we have beautiful weather. Fingers are crossed!

Open Studios 2016

And speaking of Open Studios, this year my studio will be open the second and third weekends, October 8, 9 (North County), and 15, 16 (Encore weekend). My studio number in the artist guide this year is 220.

The Artist Guide and the App (Apple and Android) are again free this year, and the Guide will be distributed in the September 19 issue of Good Times and available throughout Santa Cruz County.

For more information, check out www.artscouncilsc.org.

Anne and Mark’s Art Party

Coming up the last two weekends this month is the big Anne and Mark’s Art Party. It takes place at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. The Gala Opening is Saturday, September 24, and gallery viewing days are September 25, 30, and October 1.

For more information, check out  https://artpartysj.com/.

New Work

I premiered several pieces of new sculptural work at the American Craft Show in San Francisco last month. The first is “My Number 1 Fan”. It is salvaged black walnut with a turquoise epoxy filler in the cracks and voids. It is approximately 6 inches high, 9 inches long, and 1 1/2 inches deep.

The second is “My Biggest Fan”. It is also salvaged black walnut. It is 11 inches high, 16 inches long, and 5 inches deep at the base.

I carved both of these sculptural pieces using my mini-chainsaw rotary carving tools. The Arbortech carver is the more powerful and can cut through hard woods with ease. The Merlin 2 carving tool is primarily for softer woods, but I did use the sanding disks on these pieces.

I’ve spindle turned and carved candle sticks before, and they’ve sold quickly. This time I decided to do barley twist candlesticks. The barley twist is totally hand  carved with circular rasps after turning the shafts as spindles.

 

Again, these are black walnut. They are 15 inches tall, and the turned base is 5 1/2 inches in diameter. After carving the shaft, I hand carved the king and queen heads. Because these are salvaged woods, there are some voids. I again filled them with the turquoise epoxy.

The new sculptures have been well recieved, and I’ll have others on display at my Open Studios in October.

In Process

I have two major projects in process right now. The first is a new Mountain dulcimer. The dulcimer has always been one of my favorite stringed instruments to make. I love the tone and the simplicity of playing, which is the purpose of these old folk instruments. Everyone can play one quite easily.

I had carved the head several years ago, and put it aside while working on other new pieces and on antique instrument restorations. (More on that later.) The body is koa, and the trim, not yet on, will be purpleheart. The head and tailpiece are a light walnut. It is the same size as my others, 36 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. I hope to have this finished by Open Studios.

I’ve made well over 100 dulcimers since I started making them in 1972. Including other stringed instruments I’ve made, the number tops 200.

The photo is from last week when I glued the top on.

Another stringed instrument that has done well is my Symphonies, small hurdy gurdies. I made my first hurdy gurdy, some 25 years ago, from a kit, so I could learn how they work. Since then I’ve made two symphonies based on drawings in the 13th century Spanish illuminated manuscript called Cantigas des Santa Maria. Both sold.

Now I’m working on a replica of a Baroque-style hurdy gurdy, which is much larger than the small symphonies. This is a long-term project, because there is much to do to the mechanics and decorations as I put it together. More news on this later.

The photo shows the top and wheel being dry fitted to test the sizing. The head piece isn’t in place yet.

Restorations and Repairs

I recently finished restoring another Kumalae ukulele, my sixth, and another very fancy chord zither. I have two more Franz Schwarzer zithers scheduled through the end of this year, but the first won’t arrive until later this month or October.

In the meantime, I decided to start restoring some of the many antique zithers I have in storage. The first is a Zimmermann autoharp, model 2 3/4, from around 1895. It has a small crack in the back, but the frame is solid and there are no failed glue joints. It drastically needs cleaning, and some new buttons on the chord bars. This should take a few weeks at the most.

Do you have an antique stringed instrument that’s very special to you? A family heirloom? A collection piece? I have openings in 2017 for you! To see the types of instruments I’ve worked on, check out my Repair Logs on my web site at http://www.roncookstudios.com/ron-cook-studios-repair-logs.html.

Well, that’s about it for now. The light rain has stopped, and the sun is trying to peek through the clouds. Time to get back into my studio!

Santa Cruz Woodworkers Closing Reception at R. Blitzer Gallery

You are all invited to meet the artists and see their works once more at  the closing reception of the Santa Cruz Woodworkers Exhibition at the R. Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz, Friday, May 27, from 5 to 9 pm. I'm also happy to say that due to the popularity of the show, it has now been extended through the Memorial Day weekend. Hours 12 to 5pm each day. Mountain Dulcimer: "Molly Malone" Exhibiting artists are Om Anand, Ron Cook (me), Ron Day, Roger Heitzman, Joshua Salesin, Michael Singer, Patrick Stafford, Gary Stevens, and Matthew Werner. Invited craftspeople are woodblock artists Andrea Rich and Aaron Johnson who will be displaying wood block prints along with some of the wood blocks they carved to create them. The exhibition is taking place at the R. Blitzer Gallery, second floor in the old Wrigley Building (follow the signs), at 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz. Hope to see you all there!

It’s Showtime!

After planning and scheduling for nearly two years, the Santa Cruz Woodworkers, of which I’m a founding member, will be exhibiting at the R. Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz during the month of May. The show runs from First Friday, May 6, through May 28th. The First Friday reception is from 5 to 9 pm.

And on a similar note, the new May/June issue of Woodworker West arrived the other day. In it is a feature article on the Santa Cruz Woodworkers and the R. Blitzer Gallery Show.

That’s it for this time! Onward through the fog…

All the news that’s fit to print…

Santa Cruz Woodworkers Exhibition

Santa Cruz Woodworkers are moving along with new works in preparation for the upcoming exhibition of custom woodworks by the nine-member group: Om Anand, Ron Day, Roger Heitzman, Joshua Salesin, Michael Singer, Patrick Stafford, Gary Stevens, Matthew Werner, and myself, Ron Cook. We are very excited to be back together again for a show five years after the extremely successful one we had at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.

Invited craftspeople are woodblock artists Andrea Rich and Aaron Johnson who will be displaying wood block prints along with the wood blocks they carved to create them.

The exhibition will take place at the R. Blitzer Gallery, in the old Wrigley Building, at 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, May 6 through 28. The reception is on First Friday, May 6, from 5 to 9 PM.

Recent Shows

I was very pleased to have been one of three winners of the People's Choice award at the annual 12 x 12 (x 12) show in the Cabrillo College Gallery. My kinetic wall sculpture is the first of a fun new direction I'm taking in my work.

Kinetic Sculpture #1 - Heads and Gears

In The Studio

I try to take time each day to work on new pieces in my studio. This doesn't always work out, what with antique instrument restorations (see below), and finishing up the remodeling of my garage workshop, but at least I think about working on new pieces every day. (Ok, every other day!)

There's a "surprise" musical sculpture I'm working on that I plan to have completed for the Santa Cruz Woodworkers Exhibition in May. (You'll have to see it to believe it!)

As you can see in the following photo, I have a lot of carving to do. Dulcimer noters, spoons, framed figures, whistles, and barley-twist candlesticks.

My garage workshop houses the large power tools: table saw, band saw, drum sander, belt and disk sander, and jointer. To keep dust out and away from the side of the garage where my wife keeps her car, I recently built a wall down the middle and installed all new electrical outlets and lighting. Now I won't be tripping circuit breakers any more!

I have a dust collection attachment on my shop vacuum, but I do plan to install a dust collection system that will attach to each power tool, similar to what I have in my carving studio.

Old Instruments and Repairs

I've been surprised by the number of antique instrument restorations that have come my way so far this year. I recently completed another 1890-1900 German concert zither, and today, hopefully, I'll finish a 1924 Kulmalae Ukulele. Another German concert zither arrived a few weeks ago with an 1881 date penciled inside, and I'm expecting a chord zither to be delivered later this week.

German Concert Zither

I often receive e-mails and calls from people who have recently purchased or found antique zithers, dulcimers, and other stringed instruments. Some were inherited from parents or grandparents, and some are from collections or are personal favorites. As old as they are, the instruments quite often need restoration or repair to make them playable again. If the instrument is only to be displayed, conservation is an option.

I'm always interested in restoring, repairing, or conserving unusual and different instruments with a history. My basic fee starts at $350 for major work. (For minor repairs, such as new strings, small crack repairs, cleaning, etc., contact me for costs.) Please send photos of areas that are damaged or in need of TLC to me at my email address. For major repairs, I provide a complimentary repair log.

If you have inherited a stringed instrument, such as a zither, dulcimer, or other zither-style instrument, or even old ukuleles, or know of someone who has, it is tremendously easy to have the instrument made a functional part of living history for a very modest investment, whether it is ever played again or displayed as a family heirloom. If you have old photos of family members playing the instrument, be sure to send them along as well.

Behind the scenes:

roncook Etsy shop

My Esty shop is popular all over the world! I have been "favorited" by people as far away as Latvia and China. Sales have gone to Canada and Italy, as well as New Hampshire, Illinois, and Georgia and as close by as Salinas, just down the highway! Here's how to reach my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/roncook. You may set up a free account on Etsy to preview and purchase any other items offered for sale.

New Students

If you are interested in learning how to carve, learning general woodworking skills, or learning about the history and construction of early European (medieval) or early American (19th century) stringed instruments, please contact me at ron@roncookstudios.com.  During the instrument course, the student will learn about the evolution of stringed instruments, research a particular instrument, create working drawings, and build it. Open to all, especially interested high school and college students . All students choose wood from my wood stash!   E-mail me for more information.

Folk Art Corner: Items from special wood

If you have some wood that has come from a "special tree" or are planning to remove a tree that has played an important role in your life or your family's life, please contact me to see what we can create to memorialize it. Suggestions: spoons, small instruments, small stools.

Shows

After taking a break last year from doing shows (other than Open Studios), I will be returning to the San Francisco American Craft Council Show at Fort Mason, August 5-7. This is always an exciting show, with over 200 fabulous craft artists who come from far and wide. More news to come.

All the news that’s fit to print…

Santa Cruz Woodworkers Exhibition

Santa Cruz Woodworkers are moving along with new works in preparation for the upcoming exhibition of custom woodworks by the nine-member group: Om Anand, Ron Day, Roger Heitzman, Joshua Salesin, Michael Singer, Patrick Stafford, Gary Stevens, Matthew Werner, and myself, Ron Cook. We are very excited to be back together again for a show five years after the extremely successful one we had at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.

Invited craftspeople are woodblock artists Andrea Rich and Aaron Johnson who will be displaying wood block prints along with the wood blocks they carved to create them.

The exhibition will take place at the R. Blitzer Gallery, in the old Wrigley Building, at 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, May 6 through 28. The reception is on First Friday, May 6, from 5 to 9 PM.

 

Recent Shows

I was very pleased to have been one of three winners of the People's Choice award at the annual 12 x 12 (x 12) show in the Cabrillo College Gallery. My kinetic wall sculpture, "Heads and Gears" is the first of a fun new direction I'm taking in my work.

 

In The Studio
I try to take time each day to work on new pieces in my studio. This doesn't always work out, what with antique instrument restorations (see below), and finishing up the remodeling of my garage workshop, but at least I think about working on new pieces every day. (Ok, every other day!) There's a "surprise" musical sculpture I'm working on that I plan to have completed for the Santa Cruz Woodworkers Exhibition in May. (You'll have to see it to believe it!) As you can see in the following photo, I have a lot of carving to do. Dulcimer noters, spoons, framed figures, whistles, and barley-twist candlesticks.

 

My garage workshop houses the large power tools: table saw, band saw, drum sander, belt and disk sander, and jointer. To keep dust out and away from the side of the garage where my wife keeps her car, I recently built a wall down the middle and installed all new electrical outlets and lighting. Now I won't be tripping circuit breakers any more!

I have a dust collection attachment on my shop vacuum, but I do plan to install a dust collection system that will attach to each power tool, similar to what I have in my carving studio.

 

Old Instruments and Repairs

 

I've been surprised by the number of antique instrument restorations that have come my way so far this year. I recently completed another 1890-1900 German concert zither, and today, hopefully, I'll finish a 1924 Kulmalae Ukulele. Another German concert zither arrived a few weeks ago with an 1881 date penciled inside, and I'm expecting a chord zither to be delivered later this week.

 

I often receive e-mails and calls from people who have recently purchased or found antique zithers, dulcimers, and other stringed instruments. Some were inherited from parents or grandparents, and some are from collections or are personal favorites. As old as they are, the instruments quite often need restoration or repair to make them playable again. If the instrument is only to be displayed, conservation is an option.

I'm always interested in restoring, repairing, or conserving unusual and different instruments with a history. My basic fee starts at $350 for major work. (For minor repairs, such as new strings, small crack repairs, cleaning, etc., contact me for costs.) Please send photos of areas that are damaged or in need of TLC to me at my email address. For major repairs, I provide a complimentary repair log.

If you have inherited a stringed instrument, such as a zither, dulcimer, or other zither-style instrument, or even old ukuleles, or know of someone who has, it is tremendously easy to have the instrument made a functional part of living history for a very modest investment, whether it is ever played again or displayed as a family heirloom. If you have old photos of family members playing the instrument, be sure to send them along as well.

roncook Etsy shop My Esty shop is popular all over the world! I have been "favorited" by people as far away as Latvia and China. Sales have gone to Canada and Italy, as well as New Hampshire, Illinois, and Georgia and as close by as Salinas, just down the highway! Here's how to reach my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/roncook. You may set up a free account on Etsy to preview and purchase any other items offered for sale.
New Students If you are interested in learning how to carve, learning general woodworking skills, or learning about the history and construction of early European (medieval) or early American (19th century) stringed instruments, please contact me at ron@roncookstudios.com.  During the instrument course, the student will learn about the evolution of stringed instruments, research a particular instrument, create working drawings, and build it. Open to all, especially interested high school and college students . All students choose wood from my wood stash!   E-mail me for more information.  Items from special wood If you have some wood that has come from a "special tree" or are planning to remove a tree that has played an important role in your life or your family's life, please contact me to see what we can create to memorialize it. Suggestions: spoons, small instruments, small stools.  Shows After taking a break last year from doing shows (other than Open Studios), I will be returning to the San Francisco American Craft Council Show at Fort Mason, August 5-7. This is always an exciting show, with over 200 fabulous craft artists who come from far and wide. More news to come.