FSW Exhibits at the Franklin Institute Viking Fest in Philadelphia
Saturday, October 13th was the Grand Opening of the Franklin Institute’s new “Vikings: Beyond the Legend” special exhibit in Philadelphia. First State Woodturners was among the invited organizations to demonstrate craftsmanship and technology that the Vikings would have used. In addition to us woodturners, there were weavers, blacksmiths, archers, boat builders, musicians, and bladesmiths demonstrating their crafts on Opening Day. The craftspeople and musicians were set up in the atrium and hallways opposite the main Viking exhibit.
The exhibition – running through March 3rd, 2019 – reveals fresh insights through the latest archaeological discoveries that show the evolution of Vikings, providing a more accurate portrayal of them as skilled artisans, farmers, traders, and explorers who made a significant impact on our modern world.
Featuring more than 600 treasured artifacts on loan from the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, dramatic ship reconstructions, interactive experiences, striking multimedia, and all-new augmented reality—the exhibit takes visitors beyond the legend to convey the true story of the voyagers who set sail from Scandinavia centuries ago.
Jeff turns a toy top on the Vicmarc lathe
Jeff Turi, Eric Krum, Steve Childers, and Joe Nestlerode put together an informative exhibit that included examples of turned objects, educational literature, and a display of over 250 samples of wood species. But the real star was the small Vicmarc lathe we brought! We took shifts turning spinning tops to give away to the kids. Kids and parents alike were enthralled watching us cut toy tops from spinning chunks of wood in a matter of minutes. We could barely keep up with the demand!
Steve takes a turn…
Thanks again to Ellen and all the fine staff at the Franklin Institute! We look forward to participating in more community activities in the future. Our mission is to educate and share our love of the craft. If you have an upcoming event in the tri-state area that you think might be a good fit, please contact our President, Jeff Turi or Program Director, Joe Nestlerode.
More photos from the day can be viewed on First State Woodturners’ Flickr page…
A crowd watches Jeff turn another top…