Woodworker: Steve LoarLoar, a longtime teacher and turner who is the director of the Center for Turning and Furniture Design at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was one of the last to select his wood from the Esherick poplar. The larger pieces that remained were afflicted with rot and termites, but he found a crooked branch that interested him. He turned Bird Encased (7-in. dia. by 17-in. tall) from it, preserving the bend in the branch by making a dual-axis turning. The shape of Loar’s piece was inspired by the 1923 marble sculpture Bird in Space by Constantin Brancusi. Photo: Steve Loar