The Process in Creating Translucent Wood:
"The technique I developed for enhancing the wood's translucence requires multiple cycles of oiling, oil-sanding, and drying the otherwise completed bowls.
After a bowl is shaped on my lathe, I immediately dunk it in a large open vat of Danish-type oil, and allow it to soak---fully immersed---at least overnight."
The bowl is then removed from the oil and---while still dripping-wet oily--- treated with very fine sandpaper. The bowl is then wiped dry and set aside for air-drying at least twenty-four hours. The cycle of immersion/sandpaper/drying is repeated up to sixty times over the next few months. With each cycle a microscopic increment of oil soaks into the wood. It polymerizes, hardening within the fibres of the wood, virtually becoming part of the wood. As the polymerized oil builds up it enhances the natural colorization and contrasting patterns. It also brings out a natural translucence, reminiscent of tortoise-shell or dusty amber."
Born 1931, Chicago, Illinois. Graduated UCLA 1957, Bachelor of Science in Engineering from UCLA; Married, two children (grown); Hawaii resident since 1965;
Honorary Director, James Renwick Alliance, (2000 – 2002).
Invited Artist, Kanazawa World Craft Forum, 2003. (One of four American Wood Artists).
Became interested in artistic expression in 1967 with works accepted in juried exhibitions every year since.
Woodturner since 1972 (self-taught). Past President (three times) Association of Honolulu Artists, currently
Advisory Director, Hawaii Craftsmen.
Various Mainland and local invitational participations each year, plus solo exhibitions by major galleries in
Manhattan, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Santa Fe, and Seattle. Various U.S. and world traveling exhibitions.
Works in permanent collections of many major museums worldwide, including Louvre (Musee des Arts Decoratifs),
Paris; det Danske Kunstindustrimusee, Copenhagen; Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust, New Zealand; Metropolitan Museum
Of Art, New York; Yale University Art Gallery, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii State Art Museum, The Contemporary Museum (Honolulu); Also Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Museum of Fine Arts (Houston), Museum of Art and Design, New York, Mingei Museum, San Diego, and others.
Special presentations of Mr. Kent's works have included Emperor Akihito by Kensaku Hogen, Consul General of Japan, and the Japan-America Society (upon occasion of Hawaii visit). (Years earlier the Japanese Chamber of Commerce had presented one to Prince Hitachi.); President William Clinton has received one in formal public presentation by Congressman Neill Abercrombie, and Mrs. Clinton included one in the Official White House Craft collection. President Ronald Reagan received presentation by Hawaii Republican Party; Senator Daniel Inouye by Democrat Party; President George Bush by Congresswoman Pat Saiki.
Ron and his wife were invited to make a personal presentation to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, in the Vatican.
