Thread: Sam Maloof on TV

Thanks Evan, another forumite (jules - ele 13) mentioned this a couple of days ago, but better twice than not at all!

A bump on Tuesday would be timely too.


Cheers..................Sean

Evan,

Thanks for the tip. Watched it - excellent.

Chris

I saw it too, thanks for the Heads Up, Evan! Was well worth watching. Its inspiring to see that someone can really hit the big time doing 1/ what they love and 2/ woodwork!! Even more so that he had no formal cabinet/furniture training.
I was just a little unsettled by the sense of ego, of Maloof the institution that became the man (or vice versa?) No doubt his fame is justified, and I'm trying to work out why it got to me, maybe something about him being still alive and being the legend at the same time. I'm also aware that in the USA, they seem to have a different take on fame, where we tend to play it down...the Tall Poppy thing? Anyone else??:confused:

Regards his bandsaw technique, which has been noted on this Forum before...the way he cut the top of an angled piece of wood with the supported section not in line...what's wrong with that, I do it all the time?!:eek: Its often the only way to rough cut a carving out. You've just gotta have a well setup bandsaw and strong grip so the piece doesn't turn from under you.

Cheers,

I got goosebumps watching Sam using the bandsaw! Have to be good to do that!!!!

Was well worth watching, but a little too short. I hope they show more episodes like that.

cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

I was just a little unsettled by the sense of ego, of Maloof the institution that became the man (or vice versa?) No doubt his fame is justified, and I'm trying to work out why it got to me, maybe something about him being still alive and being the legend at the same time. I'm also aware that in the USA, they seem to have a different take on fame, where we tend to play it down...the Tall Poppy thing? Anyone else??:confused:

It's interesting Andy, I was reflecting on that a few minutes ago as I was driving to the office. (Clear blue sky, nice little swell coming in over the point at Alex Headland, thanks for asking! ).

I cannot think of anyone who has that sort of fame/persona who hasn't been doing whatever they do forever. In some ways, I find that lifestyle rather boring, as Bodgy said on another thread "repetitive".

So the artist/craftsman starts out innovating, or creating, but once he/she gets to a certain point the mainstream media and clientelle catch up and life becomes comfortable. Do one thing, do it well and do it forever. Unfortunately my make up is such that I have to try everything before I die, so I'm unlikely to ever attain such dizzy heights (a lack of talent notwithstanding! ).

Does anyone care that Sam owns a piece of timber that Brad Pitt wanted? Has it been marked so that one day the drummer from Def Leopard will own a stool made fromt that very piece. Will the piece be worth more because of it?? The answer is yes, the editors of Vogue, and Florida Lifestyle care very much, and the president's advisors will read the article and buy a piece and the legend lives on. Does anyone think Sam cares? He doesn't give a fig, it's just a piece of wood, but by golly he knows the value of telling people who do care!

On the otherhand, the continually creative artisans who are continually pushing boundaries are rarely able to build the same broad client base and despite reaching a certain level of fame they just don't make the "big time".

There are heaps of examples of this, but already this post is turning into an essay and I've got stuff to do!

Cheers,

P

I watched, and was very disappointed. It doesn't show a lot of what's 'good' about SM's life, and philosophy. I admire him for a) quitting a well paid job to go 100% WW, b) sticking to his principles and shunning offers of going to mass-manufacturing, c) creating a lifestyle that supported 5 families and allowed his children to live nearby and work with him, in a lovely old lemon grove, and d) ignoring the safety wowsers and using the bandsaw like a magic wand - watch him on the tablesaw too:eek: .

The Taunton press video (over an hour) of Sam is much more enlightening, with none of the BS evident in this one.

BTW i think his organic style and attention to grain structure and pattern are seconfd to none.

Signed, a fan.

Just remember that some else scripted the program, decided on the message, and would have shot about 2 to 3 hours of footage. We just got to see what they wanted us to see. Lets not shoot the subject.

great show IMO

i couldn't believe how he was using the bandsaw like that:eek: . guess he must have practised a lot:confused:

and his got a great timber collection too.

Wish he would tune my bandsaw !
The way he use's it .Wish i had recorded it.
Wonder where he gets his Blades From ??
with that tecniqe Just think what kind of Bandsaw Boxes he could make.
And then have three helpers to do the finishing,

G'day
I thought the program was a tad shallow. I was expecting more insights into his design methodology. Did I hear him say that he designed his works in his head? (That's what I do - can't draw for nuts! ) The fact that he has had 3 helpers for plenty of years was a bit disconcerting but I guess if his clients are still prepared to pay a premium for his work then it puts into context the practise of well known Australian aboriginal artists using family members to "finish" their paintings.
I really enjoyed the way he prepared his designs in sympathy with the timber grain (there should have been more on this design aspect) and his habit of having a lot of jobs in progress at the same time. Bit like the way I operate (something SWMBO can't understand ). I too was very impressed with his bandsaw freehand style. Bit of a worry that there didn't seem to be a lot of dust extraction going on then again he's 90 now so the dust hasn't done him any harm.
All in all though I felt at the end that he was a gentle, clever artisan at peace with his world. I liked him. I hope I can be doing things in my shed when I'm 88 years old.
Oh and BTW his missus should stick to her day job, can't sing to save herself.
Cheers