From AAW FB post:
We are very sad to share that David Ellsworth died today after a short illness. Our hearts are with David's wife, Wendy, his family, his many friends, and the thousands of us who were his students or otherwise influenced by his work. Our community is what it is because of the seeds he planted and nurtured.
Biographer Craig Edelbrock wrote these words, now particularly poignant, about David's dedication to carving out a place in the world of craft for woodturning: as Craig writes, "Ellsworth and his peers weren’t just organizing a club. They were building a cultural home... His story is one of generativity: of planting seeds for a future he knew he wouldn’t see, of nurturing a community that could grow and evolve long after him. Because of his vision, woodturning is no longer a solitary practice—it is a vibrant, connected culture."
An excerpt from the chapter "David Ellsworth and the Birth of the AAW" in the upcoming biography is in the comments.
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