When Art Liestman was in grad school studying computer science at the University of Illinois, he wanted to take up the hobby of building musical instruments.
And, so, he bought a lathe, a machine tool that's commonly used by woodturners to cut, sand, knurl and drill.
That was the beginning of his love for wood, a passion that's carried on for some three decades while he was a professor at Simon Fraser University.
Though never formally taught in woodturning, Liestman's reputation grew by leaps and bounds as he exhibited, taught, demonstrated and wrote about his craft.
These days, Liestman's fine skill is known around the world and his work can be seen in private collections as far away as Australia.
This month, the Coquitlam resident will show his trade closer to home when the Port Moody Arts Centre opens a new exhibit featuring artwork by 19 members of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners' Guild, of which Liestman is a founder.
Titled Not Just Round, the display highlights about 150 "unround" wooden pieces including 25 from Liestman - with one measuring up to five feet tall.
Liestman, who primarily employs big-leaf maple from a supplier in Chilliwack, pointed out a few of his favourite designs during a tour of his home and studio last week as well as wooden treasures made by his friends in Israel, France and the U.S.
His signature article is the teapot, which is burnt to create sections of a puzzle. Liestman got the idea for the jigsaw illusion from a teapot collector about a decade ago and he designed the shape as a small animal.
Liestman also is known for his tower forms, which are textured by cutting into the wood and breaking off chunks. There are towers that he's also extended for wall hangings and whimsical pods that appear to be dancing. Liestman's dancing men series are particularly delightful, with stick figures creating a type of code that was in Arthur Conan Doyle's story The Adventure of the Dancing Men.
And then there are the sprites, small and hollow vessels with asymmetric bodies.
Liestman said before he steps in front of his lathe and other tools in his studio, he already knows what he's going to produce; sketches and prototypes are made ahead of time. "It's all planned," he said. "I'm not one of those people who gets in their shop and says, 'The wood will speak to me.'"
In the U.S., Liestman is represented by three galleries and, next month, will be part of a group show in Los Angeles; however, when it comes to B.C., he is virtually unknown outside of the woodturning circle. "Wood is in abundance here," he said with a shrug, "so people are use to it."
The opening reception for Not Just Round is Thursday, Jan. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. John's St.). The exhibit runs until Feb. 19. Call 604-931-2008.
