|
|
|
Association Executive Committee Chairpersons
President Ed Dawson 883-1364 Newsletter Mic Shaw 866-2852
Vice President Alan Dorey 757-3670 Library Doug Gregory 469-7641
Treasurer Bob Hollands 835-5305 Workshops
Secretary Phone Daphne Coveyduc464-0997
Membership Daphne Coveyduc464-0997
Publicity
COMPETITION COMMITTEE:
Chairmen Alan Dorey 757-3670
Danny MacLean 435-0012
Michael Arthurs. husband, a father of three, emergency room physician, naturalist, pianist, wood carver and artist. Born and raised in Hamilton ON, Mike has enjoyed life to the fullest for the past forty-two years. Now living in North Bay ON where he is close to all the things that make life supremely rewarding. He reflects this life style in his art.
Mike began carving and competing in 1998 and quickly found out that those people that are successful in wildfowl carving are doing things differently and developing their own style. He avoids studying other carvers work too closely and concentrates on his own ideas and skills as an artist.
In 1994 his theory has paid off with best in shows at the Canadian Open, at the North American Championships and best in show life-sized decorative at the Ward World Championships for his Black-Bellied Plover in flight.
In 1996 his miniature carving of three Roseate Spoonbills took best in show (miniature) at the Ward World Championships in Ocean City MD.
As part of "Wildlife in Wood", NSWCAA's second visit to the Mary Black Gallery was an astounding success. The first show at the Mary Black was in 1996.
Forty NSWCAA members were gracious enough to present eighty-one carvings for the public to see. The display ran from the fifteenth of July to the eleventh of September. In addition to our carvings, there were eight carvings from the Bowater Collection on display. These carvings were "Best in Show" from our first competition to the current one.
The gallery staff reported that there were over seven thousand visitors during the time that our "show" was there. The comments in the visitor's book were all complementary. Visitors came from as far away as Japan, Iceland, the UK, South America, and the US. Visitors from all the Canadian Provinces were represented in the visitor's book.
We should pat ourselves on the back: the gallery reported that our show was the best that the Gallery has ever had.
After countless phone calls, the collection of carvings were arranged by George Germain and Dick Bone. We were let down by one carver that promised but didn't, and there was one non-member who wanted to show, that had to be refused. The show was only open to NSWCAA members.
Brian Galletly, Mel Deveau, George Germain and Dick Bone provided delivery to the Gallery. The set up took two days and Gallery staff took one day to set up the lighting. Two little people from the USA visited during set up and were shown around. They were leaving for home that PM, but were shown around and were almost speechless.
Tear down on the fourteenth of September went smoothly with assistance from Daphne Coveyduc and her huge van. Collection of carvings went well also.
Many thanks go to all who took place in any way. We could not have done it without you.
Dick Bone
Note: It is reported that The Big 'M' found a couple of our member's carvings to his liking. To my knowledge Frank Mahovolich now a member of the Senate bought Fred Kendall's Red Tailed Hawk and Jim Gardin's 1/3 sized Loon.
In the last issue of Carve 'N' Talk I made mention of the fact that the Membership dues for 2000 are now due. I did not, however, did not publish who is in charge of membership this year. The dues are $15.00/yr. Daphne Coveyduc is the person that is looking after membership this year.
She can be reached at:
Daphne Coveyduc
15 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Dartmouth NS
B3A-3T3
Phone: (902) 464-0997
e-mail: coveyduc@ns.sympatico.ca
Your name will come off the next mailing list for the next issue of the newsletter if your membership is not renewed.
Thank you all that made comment on the last issue of our newsletter. It is nice to know that some have taken notice. If you have anything to contribute to the newsletter, let me know.
There will be carving workshops held on the third Saturday of each month. The format for these workshops is going to be carve what you brought. Most people felt that the formal workshop projects are not what they would like to see. Our workshop participation had dwindled to nothing last year. This will allow you to carve with other carvers, which makes things somewhat more interesting.
If there is some facet of carving that you would like to see addressed, ie: setting eyes, let someone know and we will see if we can get someone pass on their expertise.
This may entice some of the recreational carvers to take new interest in our organization again. Talking to carvers here and there it seems that not all carvers are competition oriented, and feel that NSWCAA is not feeding their needs.
The success of Comp 2000 will directly reflect the effort we all make on digging up some sponsorship from our areas' business establishments.
Putting on a competition requires a ton of money and product to enable us to offer carvers a reason to attend our event. In order to have a successful competition and show , we must entice as many quality carvers from here and away. One way to draw competitors is to offer worthwhile prizes.
Let's not handicap an excellent event with a shortcoming of prizes due to lack of effort..
The worst that a perspective sponsor can do is to say, I'm sorry that I am not in the position to help you out. I will shortly have letters of introduction available.
Thelma Galletly met some bad luck recently. When leaving Princess Auto a short while ago, she stepped on the edge of the wheel chair ramp, went down and did a job on her leg and knee. I believe that she is in a cast from her hip down and is not able to get around too well. Anyone needing any carving supplies are asked to call ahead in the evening to make sure that Brian will be there. Get well Thelma.
It seems that the annual competition that is usually held between Nova Scotia and New England carvers in Wells ME has got itself into a bit of a turmoil. In order to save this friendly competition there is a chance that our association may be asked to stage this event in conjunction with Comp 2000.
This may be a chance to entice the some of the New England carvers over to our competition
Enclosed you will find a book of tickets and a photo of a chickadee. The Jim Edsall carving will be drawn for at COMP 2000.
Sell the book of tickets and the Photo is yours.
In future newsletters I plan to put a buy and sell section in it.
One man's extra items can easily be another's treasure. If you have an excess of tools, supplies or anything else give me a shout.
The traveling road show, part of the wildlife in wood theme year, is coming to an end. By all reports, it was a huge success. This show was exposure for out art form that reached areas throughout Nova Scotia.
One of NSWCAA's purposes are to promote wildlife carving. This has done this indeed.
In Sydney CB the show was such a success, we were asked to allow the show to remain longer. The cruise ship visitors were very impressed by the display.
Carl Purcell and Alan Dorey spent countless hours arranging and organizing Wildlife in Wood as the 1999 theme for the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design and the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design.
There were some doubts on the logistics required to pull off this display. It looks as if all went off well and was a big success.
To all organizers and carvers that made their carvings available and trusted that they would be handled carefully, a great big thanks.
The nice posters featuring Carvings from Nova Scotia artists are now available. The posters were made possible from funds allocated to from 'Wildlife in Wood'
The full colored poster features many carvings from artists in Nova Scotia. They can be framed or an extra copy would look nice in your carving shop.
They are available for a price of $2.00 with the proceeds going to Comp 2000.
Copies of the fine photographs taken by Alan Dorey are available. Alan, a photographer by trade, has taken many pictures of carvings over the years.
These photos will be available at a cost of $1.00/print. The proceeds the photos will be going to Comp 2000.
Thanks Alan. By the way Alan, do you have photo of that sweet looking chick that was at our competition last year? WOOPHS. Wrong kind of bird!
Well folks it has been a busy schedule for the last three months. In fact, we've had to decline a venue or two as our resources have been stretched beyond their limits. As for the commitments we did fulfill, many thanks go out to the volunteers that manned our booths. Ira & Rolly Perry at the Wood Show, and Dick Bone with the Designers - Crafters people at their annual show. A special thanks to all the volunteers, the unsung heroes, that helped us throughout the year.
I have a couple of things to pass onto the membership:
1.The 2000 Sport and RV Show is taking place in March. A super thanks to George German who kindly donated a Canvasback Sleeper. This ensures that a 30-foot space is reserved for us. Now, we need to man the booth.
2. Easter and Summer Extravaganzas held at Exhibition Park. Dates TBA Again we need volunteers in the near future.
Saturday Drop in workshops: covered above. The space has already been paid of., it would be a shame to waste it.
In conclusion, with the road show behind us, Comp 2000 ahead of us, it is essential for us to remain focused on our personal carving agendas as well as the Associations.
Happy Holidays
Ed Dawson
Do not use white or yellow glues mixed with sawdust as a filler or to repair carvings. you are unable to use your rotary tools on these areas. The glue will melt and gum up your cutters and mess up the area on the carving.
The rubber type adhesive cleaning blocks work real well in your ruby, diamond, ceramic cutters and sanding drums. Kutzalls or Typhoon cutters will just chew up the cleaning block.
If you are hand (knife) carving on a hard piece of wood, mist spray your piece with a fifty-fifty mixture of water and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. This softens up the wood. Let the wood fully dry before putting a rotary tool to it. I suppose other kind of alcohol may deplete your frustrations If you have anything you thing that should aired in the newsletter, feel free to pass it along. I can be reached at: Mic Shaw Box 32 Site 1 Mt. Uniacke NS B0N-1Z0 Phone: (902) 866-2852 or e-mail me at micsan@ns.sympatico.ca