Blackhawk Chipper
 

"Meeting Times

There are two evening meetings per month, which are held at the Ken-Rock Community Center at 3218-11^th Street, Rockford, IL.

The first meeting is on the first Tuesday and is an open carving, January 3rd from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Join the gang and bring your friends

The second meeting is on the third Tuesday, January 17th and is the business meeting, starting at 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

Every Wednesday is open carving from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Come and join the gang, bring a friend!  Hang around for lunch afterwards.

All our meetings are aimed at enjoying everyone's passion for woodcarving.  There always is a lot of carving information traded back and forth, as well as a friendly welcome for any visitor.

The Blackhawk Woodcarvers December Business Meeting was our annual Christmas Party and swap night. The only business transacted were the several exchanges of tools and carving stuff. Or more realistically it was transaction of throwaways or some good old jesting from Jim Griparis' table. As you know, according to Jim's "this is a true story." He had his #7 bent skews out on display; rare gouges being found in the ruins of an age-old Greek temple in Athens Greece, circa 450 BC (before carvers of Rockford.) Since they were not for sale, according to Jim there was no amount of crying, begging etc. that would make any difference to make a sale. Added to make this a special night was a fantastic food table and three pizzas that were devoured instantly, at least I did get one piece. As usual we had a good turn out for the last business meeting of the year.

Show & Tell

None this meeting night.

It has been good to year about carvers showing up on the first Tuesday night for carving. I have been most unfaithful for this monthly night, and will make a point in 2006 to show up and perhaps meet some carvers that I usually don't see on Wednesday mornings.

Isn't it a politically correct thing to do for any New Year is to make "New Year resolutions?" Well, let's take a look at some promises made by several carvers for 2006:

Dolores Cascio----Paint a stack of old completed carvings

Marshall Field---Finish at least two restorations

Roger Benedict---1) Try some stylized carvings. 2) Don't start another carving until the one I am working on is finished.

Tod Wisner---Get a large V-tool

Dona Wisner---Complete several Christmas decorations

Tony DeVita----Clean up my shop

Jayne Pheiffer---Finish my bird before Easter

Tony Valdez---Learn how to sharpen tools

Jim Griparis---Buy a kevlar glove and use it.

Gale Terrell---Try some chain saw carving

Elaine Terrell---Get this cowboy done

Judie Suit---Do at least two flat plane Harley Refsal carvings

Gordon Moscinski---Do more carving

Curt Wahlmark---Do some carving

Bob Hallstrom---Get my work shop up and running, and complete some of my UFO's (unfinished objects)

Ray Olson---1) Cut down on my Tacos after Wednesday carving. 2) Finish one carving project that has real merit.

For additional resolutions from anyone not at the Wednesday carving session, please forward them to Roger Benedict.

At the 2006 December meeting we shall review our status or inability's to achieve our resolutions. Some of them sound pretty tough to accomplish.

January 14^th Rockford Art Museum Saturday morning tour 10:30 AM of the Robert McCauley exhibition.

January 17^th ----Guest speaker, Mickey Bowman, on stone sculpturing with demos and discussion.

February 21^st----Guest speaker Ozzie Webb on powered Dremel carving with demos and discussion.

March 21^st---Guest speaker John Susin on his carved Santas from his article in Chip Chats

April 18^th---Guest speaker Guy Fiorenza on his collection of Joe Tagart's circus wagon miniature carvings and with a video of a miniature circus big top.

May 16^th---Guest speaker Bob Matthews on his carved and painted birds with demos and discussion.

June 20^th----Roger Benedict leading a session on carving a leaf in a relief form.

For the January business meeting our guest speaker is Mickey Bowman, a stone sculptor. Mickey first learned about stone carving from a class at Kishwaukee College titled "beginning Sculpture." Since then he has worked with many grades of stone as Indiana Limestone, Colorado marble, Vermont granite, to nane a few. His work is non-objective/abstract work, whereby he enjoys the color, texture, and smooth flowing lines that can be created in stone. During his presentation he will have literature of sculpture symposiums for those who are interested.

On Saturday morning 10:30 AM, January 14^th Roger Benedict will lead club members, spouses, and friends through an excellent exhibition of "minimalism" by Robert McCauly of Rockford College. He is head of the college's art department and has exhibited in major galleries through out the United States. His work is left to interpretation, yet is easy to view and appreciate. We are very lucky to have such a notable artist as Robert McCauly in our Rockford area. It is realized that very little of his work directly applies to carving, but the creative essence and imagery of his art will be well worth your time.

Please renew you membership of $18.00 and send you check to Dolores Cascio, or pay her at the December meeting. Dues should be paid by the January 2006 meeting.

Among us are members who need a warm wish of good health and recovery.

Ron Flam---Having difficult times with cancer. Both Ron and his wife, Cheryl, would appreciate your support and best wishes.

Dave Hoffman---Recently treated for two tumors in his head. Good to hear that he was at a recent Tuesday night craving session.

Sandy Schmitt---Recovering from an internal infection; now in PA Peterson nursing home and is feeling good.

Two club members will be exhibiting their carvings at Womanspace's gallery from January 13^th to February 16^th. The title of the exhibition is "Woods and Wovens." John Bibby will show his chip carvings, and Roger Benedict will show his reliefs. The opening reception is Friday night, January 13^th, and everyone is invited. Womanspace is a retreat and cultural-art center for women; the address is 3333 Maria Linden Drive, which is off of Springbrook Road.

Date is Saturday, August 19, 2006. Begin to think about your part to volunteer for the many activities to make this a success. Planning meetings will begin the first of the year.

Please forward any club or member information for the newsletter. This should be sent to Roger Benedict during the last week of every month.

CARVING CLUB WEBSITE

www.blackhawkcarving.com

"I say 'try'; if we never try, we shall never succeed."

_____Abraham Lincoln

The Blackhawk Woodcarvers was founded in 1993 and has a goal of preserving and encouraging the art of woodcarving. Membership is open to anyone having any skill of carving, including those who have never carved and want to learn about carving.

Blackhawk Woodcarvers

1921 Boscobel Court

Rockford, IL 61107