The Blackhawk Woodcarver

Volume XXV, Issue 10,  October 2018

Presidents Report

Fall has arrived; unfortunately the mosquitoes are still here. But, we need to think about a couple of items as we quickly approach the end of the year: the annual Christmas Party and elections for next year’s officers.

I believe we should follow the popular and successful Christmas Party format that was used last December. Jerome Mais has forwarded to me information he utilized for last year’s party and I plan to circulate it to the membership for use this year. We do need people willing to step up to getting this done. I would like to see a number of people willing to lead and participate in the party planning, preparation, and ultimate success. Last year, I was impressed by the large number of people who turned out to set up and arrange the tables; but there is more than just that. Many of you are quite familiar with these sorts of events and the work that goes into making them successful. In this case, we are not breaking new ground and with enough cooperative participation it should not be a great burden on just one or two persons. I believe these sorts of events work best when we have people who are interested in the success of the event, a mixture of experienced and new volunteers involved, and a willingness to work cooperatively. We will be talking more on this event.

Second, we seriously need to consider and establish the candidates for officer positions for next year. We need to establish a nominating committee and establish a list of candidates to serve as our four officers for 2019. Please consider your willingness to serve. Again, we will be talking more on this task and need.

We successful moved all our stored resources into the one room next to the multi-purpose room. We purchased and set-up an additional large steel cabinet to store some of the items which had been stored in a closet located at the other end of the building. Membership reaction to the consolidation and the smaller room has been relatively positive.

Finally, I unfortunately needed to be out of town for the last business meeting. Vice President Louie Jurisch chaired the business meeting. It appears there were a number of items displayed at the following Show and Tell including Jerome Mais’ Kestrel which I was fortunate enough to see pictures of it the previous week. The highlight was a wonderful presentation by artist Kate May Fitch of her various artwork and especially of her large sculptures of which she displayed pictures. I wish to thank member Martha Fitch (Kate’s aunt) who arranged this program.     

Tyrone Johnsen

 

Club Activity Schedule

October 3 open carving
October 10 open carving
October 17 open carving and meeting
October 24 open carving
October 31 open carving

November 7  open carving
November 14 open carving
November 21  meeting and open carving
November 28 open carving

December 5  open carving
December 12 open carving
December 19 Christmas Party
December 26 open carving

January 2 open carving
January 9 open carving
January16 open carving and meeting
January 23 open carving

February 6 open carving
February 13 open carving
February 20 open carving and meeting
February 27 open carving

Capital Area Carvers of Wisconsin 30th Annual Show and Sale

Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Free admission.  See hundreds of original carvings,  plus live demonstrations, chain saw carving and raffles.  Great bargains on original art at Ye Olde Carving Shoppe.  Information contact: Bob Tomlinson, Co-chair 608-65-4552 and Cynthia Potthast, Cochair 608-712-2989.  capitalareacarversofwisconsin.org

 

Artistry in Wood at the Roberts Centre

Woodcarving and Woodworking by the Dayton Carvers Guild.  World class artists from over 25 states.  Saturday October 13, 10am to 6pm and Sunday October 14, 10am to 5pm. At the Roberts centre, Wilmington, Ohio.  Admission $8.00 adult one daypass.  $10.00 adult two day pass.  Free for scouts in uniform and children under 12 with adult.  daytoncarvers.com

Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk Woodcarvers”.  Many pictures and information.

Deadline for the news for the next newsletter is November, 7.

October Birthdays  (that we Know of)

   6 Nordine Bolstad
  9 Tony Devita
  9 Carrie Lay       
10 Judie Suit
11 William Shogren

Blackhawk Carving Club Minutes September 2018

 

Minutes of the regular monthly business meeting of Blackhawk Woodcarvers; held on September 19, 2018 at 3218 Eleventh Street, Rockford, Illinois.

Vice President Louis Jurisch opened the meeting at 9:00 in the absence of President Tyrone Johnsen.

Secretary, Steve Terrill read the Minutes of the previous meeting August 15^th.  The minutes were approved as read. 

Treasurer, John Skaggs reported that we are solvent because he did not go out of town. 

Membership:  Chuck Drewes reported that we have a new Member, Jerry Robey, a retired minister, but he has already left town for Florida. 

John Skaggs reported that if things feel cramped we can always move into the other room.  We are mostly moved in except for the Styrofoam that we used at shows to elevate items.  Elaine Terrell says that it is available to anyone who wants it as we will not be using it again.  Those who want it can just pick it up.

Louis reported that we have to think a little on the Christmas Party.  It is scheduled roughly on the third Wednesday in December.  Unfortunately we need some poor soul who forgot to come today to be named as chair person.  We also need some kind of a committee together for planning.  If anyone has ideas, wishes to volunteer their help, they are certainly welcome.  Louis reported that anyone who did not bring a show and tell was required to take home a Zucchini.

The last thing we need to think about is new officers for next year and a nominating committee. 

There was no new business presented. 

Don Stansfield wants us to remember that there are 104 carving days until Christmas. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15. 

Respectfully Submitted: Steve Terrill, Club Secretary

 

Passed Treasured Carvings

At our monthly meetings members are encouraged to bring in SHOW and TELL items along with carvings that are tucked away from the past.  Even though you might be tired of looking at them, they may be teaching tools for others. Dust them off, bring them in!

 Club Officers       (815 area code)
President - Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Vice Pres. - Louis Jurisch, 568-7096
Treasurer - John Skaggs, 547-6951
Secretary - Steve Terrill,  708-0471

Committees   (815 area code)
Photographer - Larry Clark, 262-9982
Membership  - Chuck Drewes, 985-8575
Librarian - Bernie Budzynski
Petty Cash - Dona Wisner
Webmaster and  Newsletter Editor- Gordy Moscinski, 874-7978
Newsletter Publisher, Gary Johnson 399-1697
Historian - Elaine Terrell 765-2886
Programs - Tyrone Johnsen, 397-927
Picnic - Tony Devita

 

Door Prizes

Don't forget the Door Prize drawing on First Wednesdays. Bring something you don't need or want anymore, but know someone would be thrilled to win at the drawing.

Want to buy or sell

If you have anything that you would like to buy or sell send me an email and I will put it in the newsletter.   Gordy

Kate May Finch Presentation

 

After the meeting on Sept 19, Martha Finch presented our speaker, Kate May Fitch, who is Martha's nephew's wife.  She graduated from Bethany College in Nebraska in Studio Art.  She showed a visual presentation and talked about many of the various art projects in which she has been involved since graduation.  She has made a number of poster sized banners or artwork, typically on commission.  She has great artistic skill.  She also showed pictures of murals she has done including a 25’ by 10’ mural following the Cedar Rapids flood.  She makes furniture or more often takes existing pieces of furniture she finds in antique stores and garage sales and remakes the furniture using pieces from multiple pieces.  She even crafts new filigree out of putty and incorporates that.  She has skills in sculpture and makes both large and small sculptures.  She may sculpt in wax or clay and make a mold which will then be cast in resin, ceramic or bronze.  She makes a model sculpture of large projects such as a life size nativity, more than life sized straw sculpture of a pig or Bison.  She has also sculpted snow in the Sinnissippi park snow sculpture contest.  She made the presentation very interesting with pictures of finished products and the many steps in the process.  She talked of the many steps she makes in her projects and the learning curve of using new materials and procedures.  She was a very entertaining speaker. 

Summary by Steve Terrill

Show and Tell pictures by Larry Clark comments by Steve Terrill

Jerome Mais showed a Kestrel that he carved and painted using a video DVD in our library.  The only problem is that it took 4 hours to carve on the DVD but it took 5 hours for Jerome. 

               

Tony Davita showed a figure he carved out of a limb and his son liked it so will get it.  Tony Estimates that he has carved 800 to 900 that he has given away to sick people.  His daughter has changed the card he used to give out and it now says, “Brother Anthony hears all and sees all and keeps your secret. He is reverent and not judgmental.  He reminds you that people who care about you are praying for you. 

 

Richard Prutz showed King Nebuechanezzar from Daniel Chapter 2 in the bible.  All the colors are related to scripture colors.  He also carved a figure of an old time Pastor with his bible.

 

Chuck Drewes showed an airplane wing rib that he had made 65 years ago from a Stearman Biplane which he had built and flew.  He gave a report of it’s history. 

 

Louie Jurisch finally finished a dog that he had been working on for 5 years.

 

Bob Hallstrom showed a Cribbage board he had chip carved with nesting areas for a deck of cards.  He also showed a pencil Holder he had chip carved.  He bought the hexagonal cup at “Artistry in wood” show in Dayton Ohio about 10 years ago and decided he needed to (chip) carve it.  

 

Bernie Budzynski showed a carving of a sculpture of two people wishing each other “Good Morning” out of a tree limb which he made into a stage. 

 

Gale Terrell showed a “Tramp art” box with a cigar box inside of it.  It took around 10 years.  He also showed three ball in cage “Tramp Art” designs, two around three quarters of an inch and one close to an inch and a half. 

 

Bob Coleman showed a walking stick he carved into a bird head with eyes. 

 

Richard Dunphey showed cowboy he carved in a class in Boulder Junction and 4 mini cribbage pegs that were people after the style of Denny Neubauer.  He also showed a figure holding a pen as if it were a weight bar he was lifting. 

 

Larry Stenzel showed a woodburning of three carolers and a dog in the falling snow dressed as old England.