Thread: 2008 WWF Box Challenge Entries - Polls - Results - Comments

I everyone,

I also agree with the recognition all participants deserve, for such an interesting challenge.

Viewing all boxes, I didn't have any difficulty in select the # 5 as my preferred one. I want to share my thoughts before the participants are matched with the boxes and respective challenge final positions/places are known, so that are no doubts of preferential views and comments.
I do find that box # 6 is to me a very close call to first place. There are many reasons why this box share also my highest appreciation for the workmanship and techniques used for its construction.
I also like the box #12, and this one got my vote on the beginners category.

I don't have all the answers, nor I wish to be negative about the criteria or voting system, but I can't help feeling sorry for the person that made the box # 6, as this box is not having the attention it deserves, in my view.

Maybe what is creating this situation is the decision to "separate" participants by categories, allowing the participants to "fit" themselves where they can be most advantageous. I am not, quite honestly and with due respect to everyone, very favourable of this separation, I believe all participants in a "open" challenge like this one should be classified the same, or if you prefer, everyone accepting to participate, should be willing to accept the same level.

Once again, I am not criticising the work of those in charge, that is not my intention, I should know, I done all this all by myself, but what I'm trying to say is that, in my view, each challenge should be directed to one specific category, beginners OR pros, or every participant should be at the same level (good for the soul of those with less expertise), an option that I would have as a preference.

I believe these challenges are an important tool to keep ideas flowing, and to bring participants together, in the spirit of fair competition, not so much on the amount of years or experience one can have. With this said, the highest the skill and knowledge level of the those you compete with, the more you will learn/improve, without been differentiated among them, if you know what I mean, and I believe, you sure do.

Congratulations to all participants, and all those in charge of the running of this challenge. Thank you for continuing this idea and make it possible. Is also my wishes that every challenge, become bigger, better and free of troubles, by taking a little lesson from past mistakes, and to this, I would call "improvement"!

Cheers
RBTCO

hmmmmmm...... looking at all these different boxes it's like trying to compare apples, oranges and bananas...... maybe instead of less categories we could have more....
like say most original, most artful, best workmanship or finish ( might be hard to see on photos) , most different woods used, most intricate etc....
Juvy

I am shocked that #7 and #9 receives on 1 vote each. Yes they are just another rectangular box but at least their works are tidy. The carving for #7 is beutiful. The grain and colour for box 9 are beautfiul and the work is very clean. They deserve more, a lot more.

Agree Wongo....but voting doesn't end until 920 am Tuesday!!

The GOYA principle must be invoked here!!

Wongo,with 68% of the votes going to just 2 of the boxes,and you dont get to pick a 2nd or 3rd place etc .as you do with some other things eg for our politicians!!$**.
You vote for the best box there.Maybe the others getting a vote are from their mom or dad or the kids etc.
Im not sure that #12 is the 3rd best box either,but he has the votes
A lot of work and feelings (love) especially from the beginners ,have gone into these boxes.They want to see how they stand up to others and learn something to improve their box making.Not to be told as one member suggested all in together
That is like under 12s playing against Geelong in the AFL.
They wont be back.

Originally Posted by Wongo

I am shocked that #7 and #9 receives on 1 vote each. Yes they are just another rectangular box but at least their works are tidy. The carving for #7 is beautiful. The grain and colour for box 9 are beautiful and the work is very clean. They deserve more, a lot more.

I agree Wongo, I sort of new #6 and especially #5 were going to please and probably be front runners so I backed the underdog reason being:
"First thing was to decide what to make the box for, as the box that holds the name tags for my orchid collection was full this was the choice to make a larger one that would hold more tickets"
Good enough reason to make a box I reckon and its' done well as far as I can see although the fittings are a bit brassy. It would have looked even better with barrel hinges and a handmade, dark wood catch of some description.

#7 deserves more votes too, its got a lot of appeal because of its balanced proportions, simplicity and thoughtful use of grain pattern and tones. The carving is its crown and maybe the skill required to do it has been overlooked. I like the look of well worn wooden things and believe both #7 and #9 (and others) will get better with age.

No one really got adventurous with their designs, keeping all nice, trim and orderly. #5 owes its style from the 1960's and together with #6 made best use of angles other than 90 degrees. You've got to hand it to #10 for thinking outside the square but It does make me wonder what would be kept on the inside, anyway I still really like it.

would a multi choic poll work and tell everybody to only vote on 3 items.

can you have the names of who voted shown so it can be policed?

Sorry fellows,
I felt that I had to comeback and say a little more.
I understand why some people get a little concern about being "thrown" in with the pros. Now firstly, think, what is a pro and how they got there? who's made that promotion decision, and what was criteria used for such decision?
There are maybe many possible answers combinations to explain it, but instead of focusing on the wrong thing, and wasting precious time, chasing personal view and opinions on the matter, think instead, of who really carries all the pressure on their shoulders? Not you as a "beginner", but those self called pros? you, as a person with limited experience, can use it to your advantage buy creating whatever you can with the tools you got. Now, I've seen beginners with sheds, tools and machinery that would make any professional wood worker very happy!. Anyway, coming back to the point, the pressure, the need to perform and keep its reputation in balance, fell all in the pro fellows shoulders. They are the ones with a lot more to lose than anyone else, its their reputation and name on the line. A bad piece from one of them, is more damaging than to anyone else. So all this "fear" to compete with more experienced people, is no more than a false expectation and perception. Use this in your favour, for a change...!

I should also acknowledge the time, work and effort of participants #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #11 and #13. As far as I see it, each one put out as much time and effort as it was possible, necessary, or their felt needed to complete the box to their expectations and ability. Time constrictions alone, can be one of the most detrimental and difficult factors to get around in any challenge (competition), this wasn't the case with this challenge, but still, every minute spent with the execution of each box, was done with a certain dose of, love, passion, sweat, tears, pain, frustration, hair pulling, panic, satisfaction, pleasure, surprise, over-joy, and some saw fingers!
The biggest reward is, just being able to participate, keeping all those "ghosts" locked away. Do your own thing, in your own way, in your own time and pace, with whatever you got, make that creation your own identity, and try to identify yourself with everything you create/do. This is, my friend what counts in the end, not a place in a scoring board, created by a combination of others opinions, based on some times on a very "strange" bag of self likes and dislikes.

I could give my own review and place list of all 13 participants, I don't thing it will be necessary at this point (it can change), but on my own way of scoring preferences, the first 3 places are;
1- #5
2- #6
3- #12

Remember, these are all my views and opinions, you are most welcome to disagree partially or totally, if you so which, just return the courtesy respect, I shared here.

Cheers
RBTCO

Competitions are always difficult and it is best to be detached from the results. There is no way of knowing what goes through the minds of jurors. One may be looking at the finish and miss all the qualities involved in construction. One may be looking just at the creativity of the design and overlook the inherent technical weaknesses that would portend the thing coming apart. One may be looking at functional qualities or another might not care whether it has any functional qualities at all.

So I would encourage everyone to take things with a big grain of salt, to keep the flavor of fun in it.

In the thing of beginners vs. "pros". I would leave the pro concept out of it. What is a pro? Many times amateurs do better work. Here in the US, "pro" means you sell your work. Here we have lots of Walmarts to remind us that selling isn't necessarily a compliment. But I do believe that beginners should be offered special encouragement. It always takes some courage to make the effort to show up and show your stuff. You all are winners whether you get prizes or not.

Part Quote From Doug.---But I do believe that beginners should be offered special encouragement. It always takes some courage to make the effort to show up and show your stuff. You all are winners whether you get prizes or not.
I think you have got it right doug

I thought of the distinction as beginner vs experienced. "Experienced" included amateurs and professionals. I made a subjective choice of where to put myself, taking into account that this is the 3rd fine box I have made and what other woodwork experience I have had. I imagine that other entrants would have had a similar choice to make which almost comes down to a coin toss.

Cheers
Michael

Even though Roscar quoted Doug, I believe it's so important that it needs to be said again.

Originally Posted by DougStowe

.........
So I would encourage everyone to take things with a big grain of salt, to keep the flavor of fun in it.
................It always takes some courage to make the effort to show up and show your stuff. You all are winners whether you get prizes or not.

Hear Hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by mic-d

I thought of the distinction as beginner vs experienced. "Experienced" included amateurs and professionals.

Yep.

Watson, just a quick question.

Why did you pick 9.20am on Tuesday? Why not 9.23am?