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Reboli Center

64 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY, 11790
6317517707
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Reboli Center

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Center
    • About Joe Reboli
    • Take a Virtual Tour
    • Our Board & Staff
  • Events
    • Events & Exhibitions
    • Artisans of the Month
    • Emerging Artist Spotlight
    • Private Event Rentals
    • Request a Guided Tour
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Make a Donation
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Our Sponsors
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November's Artisan of the month: Hal Usher

November 3, 2020 Sarah Sundberg
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Starting this November, the Reboli Center is proud to feature an  Artisan of the Month. “We are thrilled to introduce you to longtime Mt. Sinai resident, Hal  Usher, a woodturner,” said Lois Reboli, president of the Center and wife of the late Long  Island painter Joseph Reboli, for whom the Center is named. Hal Usher has had an  interesting life. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor’s  degree in Russian studies. He enlisted with the United States Air Force and became a  pilot, and then had a career as a TWA pilot. Leaving that job, he founded and started a  tree and landscaping business. 

He made furniture as a hobby and then became interested in woodturning. While  spending a year in St. John, Virgin Islands, Usher met master woodturner Avelino  Samuel, and took lessons from him during his stay on the Island. He was soon turning  out his own wood bowls. They remain friends as Usher lives in St. John part of the year,  where he has an outdoor shop overlooking the Virgin Islands. He sells his work at galleries  here and in St. John. 

“Having been an arborist in the local area for fifty years, I have excellent sources of  interesting woods. I primarily turn Cherry burl, figured Maple, Walnut and Yew. While in  St. John I am lucky to have an array of very exotic woods: Lignum vitae, Cordia, “Monkey  no climb” and many others.”  

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Usher explains, “My mantra is ‘less is more.’ Consequently, I use a minimal amount of  decorating or enhancement on my work. I also focus on turning imperfect wood. I am  not a designer by nature and focus on letting the wood speak for itself. Once the piece  is on the lathe my approach is to gradually uncover the beauty within. Sometimes there  is no beauty, and the piece ends up in the firewood pile. Other times there is a re-design  as the process evolves. A salad bowl may end up being a platter. Occasionally I end up with a thing of beauty that is ‘almost’ perfect. My goal is not only to have my work  admired, but also to be useful. Salad bowls, fruit bowls and platters are my staple.  Decorative vases and hollow vessels provide me with constantly changing challenges.”

During this phase of his life, Usher has turned more than 2000 pieces, and attended  woodturning symposiums throughout the world. Now he is spending time teaching and  mentoring, to share his talents and expertise. 

Visitors can see Usher’s work at the Reboli Center during the month of November. Items  are for sale in the Design Shop. The Center is free, and open Tuesday – Saturday from  11am-5pm and Sunday from 1pm-5pm. Masks must be worn, and social distancing is  required. For more information on the Artisan of the Month, please call the Reboli Center  at 631-751-7707.

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← January's Artisan of the Month: Laura Peters, Potter

Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am - 5pm & Sunday 1pm - 5pm | 631.751.7707
64 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY | Mailing Address: PO Box 435, Stony Brook, NY 11790