April 2000 – Pacific Northwest Woodturning Symposium, Everett WA
April 2001 – Pacific Northwest Woodturning Symposium, Everett WA
February 2003 – present – Big Island Wood Guild Annual Show (juried) Big Island, HI
April 2003 – present – Big Island Woodturners Annual Exhibit, Hilo HI
May 2003 – Hawaii Wood Guild Show (juried) Kailua Kona HI – 2nd Place Sculpture Award
June 2003 – National AAW Symposium, Pasadena CA
September 2003 – present – HFIA Annual Wood Show, Honolulu HI (juried) – Honorable Mention Award
Nov/Dec 2003 – Northwest Art Center Show, Seattle WA – 6 Invited Artists Show
February 2004 – Hawaii Wood Guild Show – 1st Place Turning Award
March 2004 – Big Island Woodturners – People's Choice and Artist's Choice Awards
July 2004 – National AAW Symposium, Orlando FL
September 2004 – HFIA Woodshow, Honolulu – People's Choice Award
Nov/Dec 2004 – Northwest Art Center Show, Seattle WA – 6 Invited Artists Show
June 2005 –Utah Woodturning Symposium, Provo UT
September 2005 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Honorable Mention and People's Choice Awards
December 2005 – Northwest Fine Woodworking Box/ Container Show Seattle WA – 3rd Place Award
March 2006 – Big Island Woodturners – People's Choice Award
February 2006 – Hawaii Wood Guild Show – Artist's Choice Award
September 2006 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Honorable Mention Award
June 2007 – National AAW Symposium, Portland OR
September 2007 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Honorable Mention Award
February 2008 – Hawaii Wood Guild Show – 1st Place Turning Award
May – August 2008 – AAW Gallery, St Paul MN
July 2008 – Selected as guest artist to participate in the Emma Lake Collaborative Event in Saskatchewan
September 2008 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – 1st Place Turning Award
February 2009 – Opened Cliff Johns Gallery in Holualoa, Hawaii Hawaii Wood Guild Show – 2nd Place Open Award
October 2009 – 1st Annual Honolulu Woodturning Symposium
February 2010 – Hawaii Wood Guild Show – Best of Show and Artist's Choice Awards
September 2010 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – 1st Place Open Award
October 2010 – Demonstrated and sat on 4 person panel to discuss woodturning, and did critique at 2nd Annual Honolulu Woodturning Symposium
June 2011 – Pele's Fury Piece selected by The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and Arts, for permanent display at The Hawaii State Art Museum
September 2011 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Calabash purchased by State of Hawaii for permanent collection at Hawaii State Art Museum
October 2011 – 1st Hawaii Collaborative – Founding Member
November 2011 – Purdue University permanent display at American Forest Industry Association – Milo Calabash
February 2013 – Hawaii Wood Guild – Honorable mention in sculpture award
March 2013 – Big Island Woodturners Show – Artist's Choice and People's Choice awards
September 2013 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – First Place Sculpture award
October 2013 – Hawaii Craftsmen Statewide Juried Exhibition – Invited Artist
January 2014 – Hawaii Wood Guild – Honorable mention in sculpture award
March 2014 – HFIA Woodshow Honolulu - Popcorn Bowl purchased by Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
May 2014 – June 2017 – Collection of seven bowls replicating ancient Hawaiian vessels on the sailing voyage of the Hokulea Worldwide Voyage during the leg of the voyage up the East Coast of the US.
October 2014 – Demonstrated and sat on 4 person panel to discuss woodturning, and did critique at 2nd Annual Honolulu Woodturning Symposium
January 2015 - HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – First Place sculpture award
September 2014 - HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Honorable mention in sculpture award. Hawaii State Foundation for the Arts and Culture purchased Ohana Series .
May 2016 – Smithsonian Museum Washington DC – Hawaiian Cultural Exhibit including 7 of my bowls (from the Hokulea Worldwide Voyage)
September 2016 - HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Best of Show award
June 2017 – Volcano Arts Center - Hawaiian Cultural Exhibit including 7 of my bowls (from the Hokulea Worldwide Voyage)
August 2017 – Issacs Art Center Waimea - Hawaiian Cultural Exhibit including 7 of my bowls (from the Hokulea Worldwide Voyage)
September 2017 - HFIA Woodshow Honolulu – Best of Show award
March 2018 – Big Island Woodturners Show Hilo – Best of Show
Design and form have always been of great interest to me. I find woodturning is an excellent way to experiment with both.
There seems to be no end to what you find when you explore wood. The artists that have had the most influence on my work and my concept of design and form are Michael Peterson, for his forms, textures, and finish alterations, Johannes Michelsen for his technique and the control of his tools, Christian Burchard for his form and processes, Rollie Munro for his unique sense of design and application, and Michael Lee of Honolulu with a true sense of form and balance.
My woodworking interests developed early in life when my parents built the family's first home in Seattle in the mid 1950's. During high school I worked in construction for a neighborhood contractor. It was during this time in a high school shop class that I developed my love of turning. After high school I entered a four-year apprenticeship program in Seattle and Honolulu to become a journeyman carpenter. At the age of 24 I was the superintendent in charge of my first large project, The American Forestry Pavilion Building at the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. During this time period I worked for a contractor that had a cabinet shop so I had access to a lathe. In 1981 I started my own construction business, building and remodeling some of the top restaurants in Seattle. In 1996 my mother gave me a large platter that I had turned in high school, which changed the course of my life. My interest in turning was renewed and I immediately bought a lathe and have since turned every chance I get. In 1999 I moved to Kailua Kona where I have designed and built a home and studio and am now turning full time.
In 2009 I opened my own art gallery, The Cliff Johns Gallery now in Kainaliu, Hawaii, carrying works from the state's best woodworkers. In 2011, I co-founded The Hawaii Collaboration. This is an annual event that involves artists of all media from around the world coming together to produce art that is sold to raise funds to bring an awareness of art into our communities.
I am so fortunate to have the many beautiful Hawaiian woods available to me here on the Big Island. The woods I use are procured from arborists, tree trimmers, and sites that are being cleared for development. Living in Hawaii has greatly changed my style of work. The wood that is available to work with in the islands has taught me so much in just exploring it, and the environment here has an even greater influence on what I produce.
Ancient Hawaiian culture is of great interest to me. Studying the craft of Hawaiian bowl making is something I will never get tired of. What they could do with what they had is nothing short of amazing.
There seems to be no end to what you find when you explore wood. The artists that have had the most influence on my work and my concept of design and form are Michael Peterson, for his forms, textures, and finish alterations, Johannes Michelsen for his technique and the control of his tools, Christian Burchard for his form and processes, Rollie Munro for his unique sense of design and application, and Michael Lee of Honolulu with a true sense of form and balance.
My woodworking interests developed early in life when my parents built the family's first home in Seattle in the mid 1950's. During high school I worked in construction for a neighborhood contractor. It was during this time in a high school shop class that I developed my love of turning. After high school I entered a four-year apprenticeship program in Seattle and Honolulu to become a journeyman carpenter. At the age of 24 I was the superintendent in charge of my first large project, The American Forestry Pavilion Building at the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. During this time period I worked for a contractor that had a cabinet shop so I had access to a lathe. In 1981 I started my own construction business, building and remodeling some of the top restaurants in Seattle. In 1996 my mother gave me a large platter that I had turned in high school, which changed the course of my life. My interest in turning was renewed and I immediately bought a lathe and have since turned every chance I get. In 1999 I moved to Kailua Kona where I have designed and built a home and studio and am now turning full time.
In 2009 I opened my own art gallery, The Cliff Johns Gallery now in Kainaliu, Hawaii, carrying works from the state's best woodworkers. In 2011, I co-founded The Hawaii Collaboration. This is an annual event that involves artists of all media from around the world coming together to produce art that is sold to raise funds to bring an awareness of art into our communities.
I am so fortunate to have the many beautiful Hawaiian woods available to me here on the Big Island. The woods I use are procured from arborists, tree trimmers, and sites that are being cleared for development. Living in Hawaii has greatly changed my style of work. The wood that is available to work with in the islands has taught me so much in just exploring it, and the environment here has an even greater influence on what I produce.
Ancient Hawaiian culture is of great interest to me. Studying the craft of Hawaiian bowl making is something I will never get tired of. What they could do with what they had is nothing short of amazing.
LESS NEW, BUT STILL NOTEWORTHY
Watch this video for some background about me, my work, and what inspires me to create
Read all about me in the award-winning coffee table book Contemporary Hawaii Woodworkers; the Wood, the Art, the Aloha.
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