So my prediction is that while turners have engaged in
embellishment to achieve distinction for themselves, it will
ultimately
diminish the value and long term acceptance of woodturned
nonfunctional-objects-of-art as a distinctive media.

This is a very good point I hadn't thought about. I do alot of
embellishment and will continue becauase I enjoy doing it. But it
probably does keep my work more in the craft area than art area. But
I'm just a retiree who is turning to have fun.

When I think about it, the paintings that are valued are true
paintings that have achieved marvellous effects with pure paint. I can
think of no painters that use embellishment (and there are alot that
add to their paintings everything from paper pieces to beads) that
have achieved the status of a Renoir. Pottery is the same. The
valuable ones are pure pottery. Furniture is another area. The
valuable furniture has pure lines executed to perfection. No extra
curves for the sake of curves, no extra add ons.

It also seems shortsighted to think that those art forms we are
creating are going to achieve the same status of other art forms that
have been in the process of perfection and achievement for 1000's of
years. Ours has just started moving from function to art in the past
few years. Painting made that move at least 1000 years ago, probably
2000 years ago. We are quite presumptious to think we are going to
catch up anytime soon!

Earl