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Carve Out Time For Wood Crafters

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 28, 2009

HUDSON - Jane Wentworth attended her first Calusa Wood Carvers Show as a casual observer 14 years ago. This weekend, she'll be a featured artist.

I "was so impressed with the creativity of the carvings," the Hudson woman said. "My husband, Winslow, was the first one to say, 'You can do that,' and bought me the first knife and piece of wood.

"Now, the house is full of wood either carved or to be carved."

Wentworth, 75, does chip and relief carving, and carves golf balls, animals, birds and Santa Claus figurines. She's part of the Calusa Wood Carvers, a group of 79 artists from across the Tampa Bay area, and leads the Wednesday woodcarving session at the Elfers Senior Center.

"When I start working with a piece of wood, I get so much pleasure from seeing the carving come to life and forget the arthritis in my hands," she said.

Plenty of people will see her work this weekend. About 2,000 people come every year, said Charlotte Pierce, a woodcarver and spokeswoman for the show.

"People come from everywhere, from Bradenton to the Atlantic coast," she said. "People schedule visits with family and friends across the country around this show."

Pierce, who has been carving since 1997, specializes in relief and chip carving. Many of her projects are very personal.

"My first project was to carve an anniversary clock for my son and his wife," she said. "A gentleman in my woodcarving class saw the clock and said, 'I want one. My 50th anniversary is coming up.' I figure if he could invest 50 years into that marriage, I could put 40 hours of work into that clock."

Pierce has found many friends in the Calusa Wood Carvers, which meets weekly at five Pasco locations. She's learned from and enjoys seeing the work of people such as Wentworth and Bob Marek, another featured artist at this weekend's show.

Marek started carving at age 9 under the tutelage of his grandfather, a master carver. He has experience with architectural carving, smoking pipes, cypress knee carvings and religious subjects.

Marek and his wife, Carolyn, are professional carvers who teach nine weekly classes in carving, painting and wood-burning. Their students range in age from 9 to 86.

He's met people from as far away as London and Germany at the show, which, for him, is a great chance to learn from other carvers.

"Carvers at the show are always willing to stop whatever they're doing and answer any questions," he said. "I especially love teaching the kids interested in woodcarving. We need to pass these skills on to the next generation."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The Calusa Wood Carvers, a group of artists from the Tampa Bay area, will display their work at the Calusa Wood Carvers Show.

WHERE: Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Rd., Hudson

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

COST: $3 suggested donation

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