36th Annual Woodcarving Show and Sale
May 2 & 3, 2015

The North Arkansas Woodcarvers' 36th Annual Show and Sale was held May 2 and 3, 2015 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Carvers, their guests and woodcarving vendors came to the Ozarks to exhibit, compete, demonstrate, visit and sell their carvings/wood turnings/carving supplies. More than 144 ribbons, plaques and awards were presented including 52 cash prizes throughout the weekend. The competition's judge, Adina Huckins, carefully scrutinized 221 carvings entered for judging from the 48 categories. Adina was assisted by NAWC club members Roberta Dulaney, recorder; Debra Bergum, photographer; Jason Gambill and Gary Smith, announcers; Dick Dulaney, carving entry table; Norm Rutledge, carving entry handler; Bonnie Davis and Sandy Smith, show coordinators.

Barb Edelbrock and Deen Shirkey arranged for coffee and for club members to bake tasty treats for Saturday morning. Weekend volunteers John Siebrandt, Rich & Lynda Heydt, Cindy Stephens, Bob Shaffer, John & Betty Gregory, Mary Brissey, and Diane Gumm worked the entrance table making sure that everyone visiting the show was warmly greeted and received a door prize ticket as well as a People's Choice Ballot. Admission for both days was free, but donations are always greatly appreciated and "encouraged". Terry Balcom, Mary Ragan, Marty Wells, Pat Walsh, Karen Rutledge, Paul Baumann, Marsha Doran and Troy Strawn did a wonderful job selling tickets and taking turns manning the door prize table where drawings were held every half hour. Ray Killen's salesmanship skills again proved outstanding as he "sold" raffle tickets for the Hillbilly Chess Set and a Nativity scene. Barb Edelbrock, Deen Shirkey, Margaret Killen, Penny and Marty Wells, Robert Baser, Claude Roper, Sue Windeknecht, Mary Adair, and Pat Walsh handled the club tables selling T-shirts, mugs, hats, NAWC patches, memberships, carvings for charity, etc. Bob Ahrens was our Saturday evening's Security Guard…many thanks go to Bob for a "job well done!" And truly appreciated are those members who volunteered to help during the Show but did not get recognized because their names were not on the sign-up list. Their help filling in the "gaps" makes the Show run even more smoothly.

This year the NAWC club membership created a wonderful "Nativity" scene complete with the manger and animals, and a "Hillbilly" chess set to use as their 2015 raffle projects. The drawing for each of these works of art will be in December. Much interest was generated for all our raffle items, shown by the number of tickets sold for each. Many thanks to the kind and talented carvers that donated their time and carving skills to create the raffle and door prizes. Ray Killen designed and constructed the Manger, and Len Kieltyka painted the evening sky backdrop. The nativity scene exhibit figures were carved by Skip Janecek, Bob Axel, Sonia Nelson, Paul Baumann, Marty Wells, Sid Edelbrock, Jackie Miller, Ray Killen, Margaret Killen, Sandy Smith, Penny Wells, Diane Gumm, Debbie Shook, and Norm Rutledge. Ray Killen designed and made a beautiful oak cabinet to house the marble chess board and hand carved pieces for the chess set. The pieces were carved by Ray Killen, Margaret Killen, Kathi Clark, Sonia Nelson, Norm Rutledge, Sandy Smith, Amy Wainscott, Jason Gambill, Marty Wells, Sid Edelbrock, Paul Baumann, Mary Ragan, John Gregory, Jackie Miller and Don Hines. Chances for the two projects will be sold until December 3, which is the date for the drawing.

Seven carvers volunteered their time, shared their knowledge and demonstrated their skills in showing all that were interested how to change a piece of wood into an artful masterpiece. Demonstrators were: Stew Blain, Margaret Killen, Gary Turner, Timothy Higginson, Roger Stegall, Carol Wherry, and Clarence Moe.

Saturday evening's banquet dinner/auction was held at the Elks. A Chinese auction offering tools, carvings, books, and many "interesting" items was set up and the participation was wonderful. Plaques were presented to competition winners in attendance. Dick Todd cut and finished the wonderful walnut bases for the plaques and the engraving on the plaques was provided by The Locker Room, a Mountain Home sporting goods shop. The Chinese Auction went without a hitch and there were many happy recipients of the prizes. This auction is used to generate funds for next year's show. Sincere gratitude goes to all club members and non-members that collected/carved/donated auction items and door prizes.

First place Best Of Show honors went to Phil Wiles of Norfork, Arkansas; Second Place Best Of Show, Dan Robidoux of Independence, Missouri; Third Place Best Of Show, Mike Pounders of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Best Table Display and Peoples Choice honors were awarded to Phil Wiles of Norfork, Arkansas. The Caricature Carvers of America, represented by Randy Landen and Sandy Smith, awarded the CCA Award to Mike Pounders of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Winners of the Novice / Open Division competition, listed as category then place won - first, second, third and honorable mention were:

NOVICE DIVISION:
Novice - Instructor Assisted: Mary Brissey, Hugh Avant, Elizabeth Powers.
Novice - "In the Round": Shawn Krogman, Robert Lowe.
Novice - Relief: Gerry Gerhardt, Jason Gambill, Shawn Krogman.
Novice - Pyrography: Mary Brissey, Shawn Krogman.
Novice - Caricature: Shawn Krogman.
Novice - Miscellaneous: Shawn Krogman..

OPEN DIVISION:
Realistic Human Figure (single): Gerald Krogman, Bridges Dillehay, Chuck Bailey.
Realistic Animal (single): Kathi Clark, Bridges Dillehay, Dick Dulaney.
Realistic Animal Bust (single): Bridges Dillehay, Chuck Bailey.
Realistic Group: BDavid Duncan, Dick Dulaney, Kathi Clark.
Realistic Fish / Marine / Aquatic Life (single or group): Gerald Krogman, Gary Turner, Russ Biros, Len Kieltyka.
Song Bird (single or group): Dan Robidoux, BDavid Duncan, Betty Gregory.
Bird of Prey: BDavid Duncan, Dan Robidoux.
Shorebird: BDavid Duncan.
Game Bird: Dan Robidoux, Russ Biros.
Ducks / Waterfowl (single or group): Clarence Moe, BDavid Duncan, Richard Bloss.
Caricature Human (single): Mike Pounders, Paul Baumann III, Bridges Dillehay, Dick Dulaney.
Caricature Human or Animal in a Scene: Sandy Smith, Mike Pounders, Roger Stegall, Randy Landen.
Caricature Animal, Bird or Fish (single): Mike Pounders, Kathi Clark, Sandy Smith, Margaret Killen.
Caricature Bust: Roger Stegall, Kathi Clark, Denny Villwok.
Caricature Group: Kathi Clark, Mike Pounders, Roger Stegall.
Pyrography - Buildings / Structures: Gerald Krogman, Deen Shirkey, Barb Blain.
Pyrography - Miscellaneous: Phil Wiles, Diane Gumm, Gerald Krogman.
Driftwood: Bridges Dillehay, Wanda Harrigan, Kathi Clark, Jerry Anglen.
Bark Carving: Jerry Anglen, Margaret Killen, Rod Engle.
Relief - Buildings / Structures: Mary Adair, Dave Peterson, Denny Villwok.
Relief - Humans: Deb Bergum, Kathi Clark, Sid Edelbrock.
Relief - Animal(s), Bird(s), Insect(s), Fish, etc: Kathi Clark, Diane Gumm, Mary Adair.
Relief - Miscellaneous: Dave Peterson, Tom Mayfield, Curt Shirkey, Margaret Killen.
Chip Carving / Positive Image/Gouge: Warren Rauscher, Carol Wherry, Scott Powers.
Chip Carving / Negative Image: Tommy Johnson, Carol Wherry, Warren Rauscher.
Jewelry: Wanda Harrigan, Curt Shirkey, Richard Bloss, Diane Gumm.
Novelties / Bottle Stoppers: Barb Blain, Carol Wherry, Mike Pounders.
Dolls / Marionettes: Connie Hardt, Wanda Harrigan.
Spoons: Connie Hardt, Kathi Clark, Hugh Avant, Dave Peterson.
Canes / Staffs: Gerald Krogman, Kathi Clark, Jerry Anglen.
Santa Claus: Roger Stegall, Mike Pounders, Norm Rutledge.
Holiday Items: Carol Wherry, Sonia Nelson, Gerald Krogman.
Mythical & Carousel Figures: Russ Biros, Connie Hardt, Mike Pounders.
Wood Turning - Bowls / Goblets / Vases: Phil Wiles, Frank Nixon, Rod Engle.
Wood Turning - Pens: Frank Nixon, Phil Wiles.
All Other Turnings: Phil Wiles, Denny Villwok, Rod Engle.
Stylized: Bridges Dillehay, Gerald Krogman.
Miniature: Kathi Clark, Carol Wherry, Mike Pounders, Wanda Harrigan.
Rough-outs: Roger Stegall, Denny Villwok, Norm Rutledge, Clarence Moe.
Instructor Assisted: Sandy Smith, Kathi Clark, Mary Adair.
Miscellaneous: Russ Biros, Connie Hardt, Clarence Moe, Gerald Krogman.

On Sunday, carvers got a chance to mingle and catch up with acquaintances until the afternoon. The "Unlimited Hand Tools" Whittling Contest was again a popular event. There were 8 carvers entered in the afternoon's "Whittling Contest". Participating carvers were Chuck Bailey of Flippin, AR; BDavid Duncan of Harrison, AR; Sonia Nelson of Clarkridge, AR; Denny Villwok of Galena, MO; Roger Stegall, Mayflower, AR; Stew Blain of Lampe, MO; and Clarence Moe of St. Cloud, MN.

Carvers were given a time limit of 1 hour plus a 10-minute break after the first 30 minutes. Jason Gambill graciously agreed to be the contest's announcer and did a spectacular job. The carvers were allowed unlimited hand tools, given a block of basswood, and instructed to carve "anything". Larry Yudis, Adina Huckins and Tim Heinecke judged the results. First, second and third place winners received a plaque from NAWC, plus a Woodcraft Shop gift certificate and a carving knife. Roger Stegall placed first; BDavid Duncan - second, and Chuck Bailey - third. Special thanks go to Larry and Carol Yudis for their generous gift certificate donation, Tim and Robyn Heinecke for the basswood, The Locker Room for the engraving, and Dick Todd for the walnut bases for the plaques.

Sincere thanks go to all participants and to the club members and their spouses who graciously volunteered their time to make it all happen. Heartfelt appreciation go to the vendors, businesses, club members, visiting carvers and friends who donated money, merchandise and their time to help make the show a success. Special thanks go to the "sign committee" who trekked through high grasses to set up and break down the club's wooden signs making sure that the public knew when and where the show was to be held. Ray Killen "redesigned" the frames for our signs, and he, Jason Gambill and Bob Shaffer meticulously built new "extremely-easy-to-assemble" frames for all twenty of our show's signs. The "sign set-up committee" members were Paul Baumann, Bonnie Davis, Dick Dulaney, Bob Shaffer, Norm Rutledge, Jason Gambill, and Gary and Sandy Smith. Our appreciation also goes to the members and their spouses who worked behind the scenes on the Friday before the show and then on Sunday after closing to assist vendors and carvers in the unloading and reloading of their products and carvings. And a deep debt of gratitude for those members who took time out to help set up tables and chairs, and generally assist us in getting everything aligned just right. Without everyone's generous help and support the show could not have been possible. The Show Committee is already discussing plans for our next show. Debbe Edwards has accepted our offer to be our judge at the 37th Annual Show to be held May 7 & 8, 2016. See you there!

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Photos by Deb Bergum