Bert Finnamore Lignum Pacifica (Lignumpacifica.com ), meaning wood peace, was started several years ago as an outlet for my wood turning hobby creating bowls, hollow vessels, plates and goblets, among other things, mostly from locally sourced wood. I have been turning for about 8 years and am now on my third lathe, a Oneway 2436, that can turn pieces up to 48 inches in diameter. My background is in biology, particularly biosystematics of wasps. I was based in Edmonton at the Royal Alberta Museum as Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, then later as Director of the Curatorial and IT sections. The curator position involved extensive travel both throughout Alberta and the Pacific Northwest, but also through co-operative ventures with the Smithsonian Institution and Royal Dutch Shell in the Peruvian Amazon. I moved to Powell River in 2013 as Director of the qathet Museum and Archives and retired in 2019. I now reside in Powell River. I fell into wood turning in 2016 while I was trying to make handles for carving knives on a lathe. Working with a lathe proved to be completely absorbing and endlessly challenging as an outlet for creativity. Since then I turn something almost every day during winter months and garden and hunt for wood in the summer months. I also organize a group of about 10 local wood turners that meet once a month to discuss projects and solutions to improve each others wood turning skills.
Wood turning is a centuries old craft that involves rotating a piece of wood at high speed on a machine called a lathe to shape a desired product with metal cutting tools. Originally used for the production of functional objects like wooden bowls, plates, spoons, candle holders, stools, and spindles; the last 60 years has seen interest in wood turning explode as an art form. My work starts with the hunt for wood in the Powell River region. I search for burl formations with dramatic grain, or spalted logs (fungal growths that impart spectacular colour) on fallen trees, or tree removals from back yards; but I will also purchase large logs or slabs from local suppliers when I need a consistent supply of wood. The products I produce range from functional bowls to decorative art works. My work is characterized by a consistent thickness (e.g., thin walled bowls and vessels), complete absence of tool marks, and by a food safe finish. Products include goblets (wooden wine glasses), plates, trays, live edge bowls and nested bowl series, small round boxes, candle holders, dried flower holders, larger hollowed vessels, hollowed spheres with pierced designs, plant stands, end tables, and coffee tables up to 47 inches (1.2 m) in diameter.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
