WINTER 2000

A small show by members to the January & February association meetings led to an interesting round table session. The February monthly membership report by Daphne Coveyduc opened the door to a discussion as to why our association is steadily loosing members over the past number of years. The opinions varied somewhat, but most members present agreed that we do need to do something to entice new and past members to become active members.

Some people feel that the only apparent function the association has, is to put on the annual carving competition. Competitions likely interest only a small proportion of the local carving community. Whether the competitive carver wants to admit it or not, the majority of carvers have little or no interest in carving competitively. As new or recreational carvers gain confidence they may be more inclined to enter into the world of competitive carving. The average recreational carver is intimidated by competitive carving.

Are we giving people the wrong impression of carving? At most venues where we are demonstrating our work the prospective new carver is left with the impression that all bird carving takes hundreds of hours to complete. The hundreds of hours quoted to complete carvings most often do very little to entice those who potentially want to take up carving as a hobby. In this day and age few people feel that they have that kind of time to dedicate to a hobby. The hobby/recreational carver is the area where our membership will grow from.

Some of the upper echelon of competitive carvers, knowingly or not, portray the feeling that unless you spend countless hours researching carving projects and take hundreds of hours to complete the carving, you are not doing things right. The attitude that they "will not spoon feed lesser carvers" does show through! Some of these lesser carvers feel less and less comfortable approaching some of these carvers.

The primary aim of Nova Scotia Wildlife Carvers & Artists Association is to promote and advance wildlife carving in Nova Scotia. Are we doing our part? NSWCAA now offer very little to those that do not carve for competitions.

Is it time to have a special meeting to air the views on how to reach both new and past members? The lack of interest shows more and more all the time and needs to be addressed. Should all the past members be contacted and invited to a special meeting to air their views?

I have written this article expressing some of the views of members and some are my own personal observations.

Mic Shaw

At the present time we still need sponsors badly. NSWCAA is now committed to put on the competition for the year 2000. A lack of sponsorship will mean that the cost of staging the competition and show will have to be covered by our association.

Enclosed in this newsletter you will find a letter of introduction as being a member of NSWCAA. It is of great importance that we obtain as much sponsorship as possible.

Nova Scotia Wildlife Carvers & Artists Association has an extensive reference library that is available to our members. Doug Gregory, who has graciously dedicated space in his home to house our library, maintains the library for us.

There is a wealth of wildlife carving publications at our disposal. If you are looking for reference or even patterns for a particular species, chances are you will find something there.

As the Internet is becoming used more and more daily, members e-mail addresses should be part of your address. If you have an e-mail address please pass it along to myself at:

Check out the NSWCAA web page. Our web page is very interesting and informative indeed. On the page you will find information on everything from beaks to tail feathers and all subjects in between. There is a good selection of photos in the photo gallery and pictures of the ‘Best in Show’ carvings for the past 10 years of the Annual Atlantic Wildlife Carving Competition and Shows.

Doug Gregory does a fine job maintaining the Web Site.

The competition committee met a couple weeks ago.

As reported before Mike Arthurs is going to be the judge. He will not be able to put on a seminar as previous judges have.

Wilson Crowell and Sheila Young are going to put on seminars. (See info later in this Newsletter) All in all, things are progressing well so far. For Information Contact:

It appears that the monthly Saturday workshops are not being attended. The space has been paid for so the time is available.

If anyone has any suggestions pass it along to a member of the executive. Structured projects did not work and it appears that, just carve what you bring, is no more successful.

Some of the venues showed interest in having another display in 2000. I suppose that this could be possible, but it would require a bigger overall effort by association members to organize and to make this possible.

Once again Jimmy Gardin had to come to the rescue, even after the display was over. It seemed that the Truro group somehow were unable to pick up their pieces. After chasing around, Jim found someone who was willing to take the pieces and he made a special trip to drop them off.

We are pleased to announce that the following people are sponsors for Comp 2000.

Please patronize our sponsors whenever you can. Their support is important to us.

*Includes pattern, wood blank and eyes. (Bring your own carving equipment and supplies)

Wilson Crowell loves carving birds of prey and this can be seen in every raptor he creates in his workshop. He has studied and produced works of art portraying every North American Falcon.

In this two day workshop Wilson will demonstrate the fine art of detailing a life size Peregrine falcon’s head. Participants will practice reading and transferring the pattern to the blank, roughing out the blank and the intricate subtleties that make a falcon so distinctive and bold.

Wilson will instruct power and hand tool carving and participants should indicate when registering which they prefer. Basswood blanks will be provided for the hand tool carvers and tupelo blanks for the power carvers. A minimum of seven participants will be required to run the course with a maximum of fifteen, so early registration will be essential.

Wilson and Margaret Crowell have been carving and competing since 1987. Their international ribbons from competitions such as the Ward World Championships in Ocean City Maryland highlight their carving accomplishments. They have been teaching and encouraging carvers in the Maritimes for many years. The Crowell’s have a contemporary style in presentation/habitant that makes their art unique.

Sheila Young of Grand Pre will demonstrate feather-painting techniques. Feather shapes, patterns lending colours will be demonstrated throughout the morning session. The session will be limited to 20 painters so register early.

Sheila and Earl Young have been successfully competing at international events for the past 10 years. Their experience shows in their fine work and many ribbons they have brought home. Most recently the couple have been invited to show their carvings at the elite "Easton Show and Sale", in Maryland.

Sign up now for a first hand view of Sheila’s painting techniques.

SPORT & RV SHOW

The Sport & RV Show is taking place at the Atlantic Fairgrounds on March 16^th-19^th 2000. NSWCAA will again have a booth made possible by the kind donation from George German, of a duck that is traditionally donated to the show organizers.

Thanks to Ralph MacLean, Ira and Rollie Perry for their time spent organizing for this event. To those who will be manning the booth, Thumbs up.

Thursday June 15, 2000

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Carving Seminar

Friday June 16, 2000

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Carving Seminar

9:30 am – 9:00 pm Registration

Saturday June 17, 2000

8:30 am – 9:00 am Registration

9:30 am Public Viewing

10:00 am Judging

4:00 pm Award Presentations

7:00 pm Show & Tell - Michael Arthurs on ‘ Art and Wildfowl Carvings

Sunday June 18, 2000

11:00am – 4:30 pm Public Viewing

1:00 pm Head Carving Competition