Southern California’s abundance of woodworking talent was on display again earlier this month as part of the 12th annual Fine Woodworking Competition at the Orange County Fair.

Nearly 100 woodworkers from across the LA / San Diego area took part in this year’s show. The judges – Carl Stammerjohn of the Cerritos College woodworking program, Anaheim woodworking teacher William Ng and master woodcarver Boris Khechoyan – reviewed more than 240 pieces – a 50 percent increase from last year. For a fuller gallery of entrants, check out this page on the fair’s website.

Event coordinator Barbara Thompson said this year’s rules allowed more entries per artist, but also attributes the growth to grass-roots work by the Orange County Woodworkers Association, as well as the show’s widening reputation for providing a high-quality exhibit space. In addition, the show and others like it tend to attract established woodworkers looking to show new work as well as up-and-comers who want to build a presence in the field.

Furniture division winner Laura Zahn, for instance, a recent Redwoods graduate, also has a piece in the Artistry in Wood show sponsored by the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association in Santa Rosa. Both shows, she says, “have been a great experience. I’ve seen some beautiful pieces and met some inspiring woodworkers.” 

Certainly no shortage of those in the Golden State…

Launch Gallery