Each year, nationally and internationally known woodturners come to Alaska to demonstrate at our symposium and teach classes. You do not have to be an experienced turner to gain education, tips, and skill building techniques from this event, nor do you have to be a member of our Association to enjoy this educational experience. The following turners have made the long trip to Alaska to participate in previous years symposiums and some have allowed us to post videos of their symposium demonstrations in the Members Only section of our website.

Please Join AWA to view these videos, and visit the websites of these guest turners:

Alaska Woodturners Symposium

2025 Symposium Sweatshirts

Sweatshirts are ¼ zipper and wine/ burgundy in color with club logo and the names of our guest turners (including our local turners). Available sizes are S, M, L, XL, 2XL & 3XL. Cost is $50 for sizes S thru XL, $52 for 2XL and $55 for 3 XL. Deadline for ordering is March 20, 2025.

2025 Symposium Ticket Options

2 Day Members Tickets $120.

2 Day Non-Members Tickets $140.

1 Day Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Non-Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Student (Under 18) Tickets $10

Note: A free one day symposium ticket is included with each symposium class purchased.

Please select the box for the tickets you are wanting to purchase

2 Day Members Ticket 2 Day Non-Member Tickets

1 Day Members Ticket 1 Day Non-Member Tickets

1 Day Student Ticket (Under 18)

2025 Featured Turners

Laurent Niclot from Ft. Collins, CO & Andy Cole from Honolulu, HI

Classes

Both of our visiting turners will be doing a 2 day class ($300), and a 3 day class ($450).

The classes will be held at Glass Sash and Door Supply 500 E. Ship Creek Ave.

For Andy Coles Classes

Andy Cole’s 2-day symposium class is April 28^th & 29^th, 2025
Andy Cole’s 3-day symposium class is April 30^th thru May 2^nd, 2025

Note: A free one day symposium ticket is included with each symposium class purchased.

Sold Out

For Laurent Niclot Classes

Laurent Niclot’s 2-day symposium class is May 8^th& May 9^th, 2025

Laurent Niclot’s 3-day symposium class is May 5^th thru May 7^th, 2025

Note: A free one day symposium ticket is included with each symposium class purchased.

Sold Out

AWA 2025 Symposium May 3^rd & 4^th, 2025

Guest Demonstrators:

Laurent Niclot from Ft. Collins, CO, originally from Toulon in the south of France, but is currently living and working in Fort Collins, Colorado. Probably best known for his turning miniature items, especially miniature teapots. You can check out his work by visiting his website at https://laurent-niclot.com. He will be providing class for AWA members May 5^th thru May 9^th, 2025.
Andy Cole from Honolulu, HI; Andy has lived on the island of Oahu since the 1980’s and works in a hillside studio where he is inspired by a spectacular ocean view overlooking the island’s south shore and beyond. Andy is probably best known for his turning sets of nested bowls. You can check out his work by visiting his website at https://andycolewoodturning.com. He will be providing classes for AWA members April 28^th thru May 2^nd, 2025.
Will also include 2 local AWA Members: Bob Congdon, and Brian Seitz.

Andy Cole Symposium Demos:

Saturday Demo’s

Natural edge nested sets – This demonstration will show how to extract multiple natural edge bowls from one blank using the Kel McNaughton coring system. The focus of this demo will be how to extract as many natural edge bowls as possible from one piece of wood. We will also discuss the various other coring systems available and the pros and cons of each. Our goal will be to rough out at least five pieces and show how to re-chuck the pieces for further turning. This is a very popular demo and is always a crowd favorite. Skill level is intermediate to advanced.
Natural edge bowls with flair – Shapes and form for natural edge bowls will be the focus of this demo. Preservation of bark and alternatives when there is no bark will be discussed. Blank selection and various chucking methods will be covered as we create an attractive looking natural edge bowl with an ogee curve. Skill level is beginner to intermediate.
Hawaiian Calabash style bowls – Traditional bowls are a favorite in Hawaii and this demo will focus on pleasing shapes that are simple to make. This is a good demo for beginners, and we will cover many basics including the various cuts and turning tools available. I will also demonstrate various chucking methods that can be used.

Sunday Demo’s

Sunny Side Up Egg on a Plate – This demo is a lot of fun and involves some class participation in the design and sanding of the egg parts. I will create an edible looking (but very hard to eat) sunny side up egg on a plate using appropriately colored woods. I will first turn an egg yolk using Osage Orange. The next step is to create a realistic looking egg white in which to insert the egg yolk. Creating and shaping the egg white will include some freehand abrasive work and sanding. Lastly, a plate will be turned to hold the breakfast item. Skill level is beginner to intermediate.
Little things can make a big difference – This demo can include such things as spinning tops, bottle stoppers, tool handle extenders, knobs, etc. There are many times when a small wood item can be turned to replace something around the home giving each item a custom woodturner look. This is a good beginner level demo.
Natural edge nested sets – This demonstration will show how to extract multiple natural edge bowls from one blank using the Kel McNaughton coring system. The focus of this demo will be how to extract as many natural edge bowls as possible from one piece of wood. We will also discuss the various other coring systems available and the pros and cons of each. Our goal will be to rough out at least five pieces and show how to re-chuck the pieces for further turning. This is a very popular demo and is always a crowd favorite. Skill level is intermediate to advanced.

Laurent Niclot Symposium Demo’s

Saturday Demo’s

Mini Hollow Forms – In this demo, we will be turning and hollowing miniature hollow forms (varying in size and shape) using my signature Niclot Mini Hollower. I will use different tools for the outside shape focusing on getting a nice cut. We will talk about how to gauge the wall thickness and finish the bottom of the form.
Sphere – Roughing out and turning of a perfect sphere between centers and remounting for the finishing using a jam chuck made out of green wood. The sphere is a very pure shape but is also one of the most complicated. It is a great canvas for carving and texturing as well as a pleasant shape that will put forward the beauty of the wood grain.
Spiral Carving– Using the previously turned sphere, I will show how to draw a spiraling design and carve using power tools to make the design both concave and convex. Then, using a woodburner and rotary tools, I will show the texturing of the flutes and beads created. The techniques used in the presentation can be applied on a multitude of forms. The texturing possibilities presented will open the participants minds and encourage them to try these techniques with whatever tools they have available, without having to procure specific burrs.

Sunday Demo’s

Miniature Teapot – Turning of a miniature teapot (approximately an inch) using the bedan and demonstration on how to use it with the bevel up for spindle turning, hollowing of the teapot with miniature hollowing tools. Then turning of the lid and the spout (magnifiers not included) and coloring using Indian ink and gilding wax to create the Damascus steel effect. Finally, an explanation on how to make the handle using a wire and a cotton string on the lathe.
Multi-Axis Drop – Turning and turning off-center of a drop using a spindle gouge and a skew. Then carving of the top of the drop using gouges and rasps to make it thinner and have two different curves on the back and the front giving it an illusion of movement.
Multi-Axis Exploration – In this demo I will talk about the two main principalsÂ of multi-axis turning. I will introduce a variety of shapes and ways to cut the material to create different designs and achieve unique forms. These techniques can be applied to a plethora of projects, such as boxes, vases, furniture, and sculptural forms.

FEATURED TURNER:
Andy Cole

Visit Andy’s Website for more information

All of the wood Andy uses for creating bowls comes from Oahu grown trees that were brought down by either a property owner or strong gust of wind. He rescues the wood for a higher purpose before it can be transported to a land fill.

Andy has lived on the island of Oahu since the 1980’s and works in a hillside studio where he is inspired by a spectacular ocean view overlookingÂ the island’s south shore and beyond.

FEATURED TURNER:
Laurent Niclot

Visit Laurent’s Website for more information

Originally from Toulon in the south of France, but is currently living and working in Fort Collins, Colorado USA. He discovered woodturning from Jean-FranÃ§ois Escoulen. That is when he knew how he wanted to make a living. He considers his work as experimental: He likes to play with the wood and try new textures and colors, new tools, and new techniques. His current work ranges from traditional woodturning to woodburning, carving, multi-axis, coloring and texturing.

ALASKA TURNER:
Bob Congdon

Bob has been turning wood since the early 2000s and has been involved with AWA, Inc. since 2005, serving as board member and president, teacher of beginning and advanced classes, meeting demonstrator, floor sweeper, guest turner host, and demonstrator at public events. Bob continues to explore what can be done on the lathe. This year’s demo will look at off-center turning from both sides of an object resulting in a lattice top vessel. The Axminster chuck and some shop-built devices will be shown.

ALASKA TURNER:
Brian Seitz

Brian’s demonstration will cover a variety of finishes, finishing techniques, and discuss pros and cons of each type. Using bowls turned from the same section of tree, attendees will be able to see the color variation of the different finishes that are applied. Finishes that will be discussed include walnut oil, Watco and General Finishes products, the Beall Buffing System and more.

Bonnie Klein

Dixie Biggs

Jason Breach

Alaska Woodturners Symposium

2025 Symposium Ticket Options

2 Day Members Tickets $120.

2 Day Non-Members Tickets $140.

1 Day Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Non-Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Student (Under 18) Tickets $10

2025 Featured Turners

Laurent Niclot from Ft. Collins, CO & Andy Cole from Honolulu, HI

Classes

Andy Cole Symposium Demos:

Laurent Niclot Symposium Demo’s

FEATURED TURNER:
Andy Cole

FEATURED TURNER:
Laurent Niclot

ALASKA TURNER:
Bob Congdon

ALASKA TURNER:
Brian Seitz

Pages

Categories

Alaska Woodturners Symposium

2025 Symposium Ticket Options

2 Day Members Tickets $120.

2 Day Non-Members Tickets $140.

1 Day Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Non-Members Tickets $60.

1 Day Student (Under 18) Tickets $10

2025 Featured Turners

Laurent Niclot from Ft. Collins, CO & Andy Cole from Honolulu, HI

Classes

Andy Cole Symposium Demos:

Laurent Niclot Symposium Demo’s

FEATURED TURNER: Andy Cole

FEATURED TURNER: Laurent Niclot

ALASKA TURNER: Bob Congdon

ALASKA TURNER: Brian Seitz

Pages

Categories

FEATURED TURNER:
Andy Cole

FEATURED TURNER:
Laurent Niclot

ALASKA TURNER:
Bob Congdon

ALASKA TURNER:
Brian Seitz