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Show THE THUNDERBIRD SUSC THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1990 PAGE 7 Sevy is a star in the making BY CYNTHIA JENKINS Grandmothers all over the world inspre grandchildren, and Earl Sevys Earl Sevy works on yet another Starworks creation. Selected a member of A Dozen and One Utah Furniture Makers,' Sevys work can be seen in Logan and Salt Lake City. grandmother is no different. Her 1,300 or so patchwork quilts inspire Sevys new ideas for exotic Starworks creations. Id seen my grandmothers quilts and wondered why dont people do this kind of stuff out of other materials, says Sevy. I can do that kind of stuff, but I know why others dont its not easy. Starworks are patchwork star designs inlaid in wood using exotic wood varieties from South America, Samoa, Africa, and other foreign places. Unique ideas are Sevys specialty. He began carving soap at the age of six, wood at the age of nine, and by the age of 12 he was toying with the idea of making a starburst out of wood. To others his ideas were out of the ordinary. But Sevy says, I like to do what other people say that I cant. Professionals told Sevy the only way to determine his ideas feasibility was through trial and error. By the age of 16 Sevy was seeing stars. Time took its toll, and after more than 1,000 hours of frustration and grueling work, Sevy emerged from his sawdust den with an octagon starburst table a legend in his own time. The frustration was far from over though; the tables varnish would not dry, and the table was ruined. After three tearful days of resanding and applying numerous coats of tung oil, the title of his first contest entry was born: Table of Many Tears. Sevy was selected to be part of A Dozen and One Utah Furniture Makers by the Director of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art in Logan, Utah. It is his Table of Many Tears that will be on display in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art in Logan Sept. 25 through Dec. 16, 1990, and in the Salt Lake Art Center Feb. 8 through March 29, 1991. In addition to his woodwork, Sevy has a mind for inventions. Since he purchased his first wood lathe at the age of 12, he has wanted a machine to do more than just the basics. Now with computers were going to change the principles, he says. I want to build a lathe. I might as well make a good one, might as well make it computerized, and I might as well make it mass produced. Sevy has not been alone in his endeavors; instructors and other students have been actively involved in the lathes blueprint creating process. Currently Stephen R. Adams, department of technology chair, and D. Scott Truman, director of development, have applied for $9,300 to develop Sevys patented CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Lathe. Sevy says the woodworking industry has not yet incorporated any such equipment. The only systems available are machines which turn out few, and expensive, designs. My dream is to build the machine that can do what I want to do, he explains. Sevys dreams'have never held him down. He skipped his senior year of high school to attend Sevier Valley Tech and graduated in diesel mechanics. Now at 23 he is president of SUSCs VICA chapter. His ultimate goal, however, is to do things that have never been done: better, more attractive, more creative, that catch the eye and the pocketbook. Sevy, an industrial engineering technology major, says a education will help me to come up with the idea, then create the machine to achieve ideas, run the business of manufacturing them, and sell the product.. .not by myself though. mass-produce- d The annual Fall Fair featured food, games and dancing for the crowd gathered last night at the Institute. Upcoming Welcome Week activities will include Starlight Club Friday in Thunderbird Circle at 8 p.m. featuring mind reader Craig Karges. Club rush will also continue throughout the week. LDSSA-sponsore- d :E |