Greetings Fellow Woodcarvers
Happy (belated) 4th of July. I hope each of you had the opportunity to enjoy the holiday. The end of June wrapped up with the chip carving classes conducted by Bill Johnson. The carvers that took his class were delighted not only with the class itself but with the instructor and the results of their projects. The completed or nearly completed chip carvings available for viewing at the summer picnic were terrific.
The summer picnic was well attended where nearly 60 members and guests gathered for good food and good fellowship. Many thanks to those who donated items for the raffle and to those who helped with the preparation and clean-up. Special thanks to Bill and Judy Dominic for their efforts in making this activity a success.
Pyrography classes with Michele Parsons for beginner and advanced students will be July 19, 20 and 21. I know all those enrolled are looking forward, as I am, to seeing what projects she will have available for us. Our club is very fortunate to have such skilled artisans as Michele Parsons and Bill Johnson among its membership.

Read more: July 2018

Greetings Fellow Woodcarvers

June continues to be a busy month with carving classes for new carvers. We are pleased to have this month chip carving classes instructed by Bill Johnson, a gifted and talented carver who is also a member of the Charlotte Woodcarvers Club. We want to continue the momentum by offering instruction in the various woodcarving venues that are of interest to club members. If you have any suggestions for future classes please let us know and we will try to make it happen.

Now that the location for our 2019 woodcarving show has been decided (CPCC), I would like to turn my attention to further developing the main purpose of the Charlotte Woodcarvers Club. The club was founded on the premise, “ to promote the art of woodcarving”. In addition to our yearly woodcarving show we need to broaden our public persona. I recently received an article from Ray Branch about an ongoing program by the Lancaster, Pa club, to reach out to the youth and general public by offering classes on the techniques of basic woodcarving. They have been successfully conducting this program for the last 13 years. We need to get more youth involved in our art and who knows we might just spark an interest that puts aside the phones and video games that seems to occupy so much of our youth’s time.

START WHERE YOU ARE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. DO WHAT YOU CAN.&mdashArthur Ashe

Happy Carving,
Al wheeler
President

May is continuing to be a busy month with various club members conducting carving classes. The club will continue to soliciting other members to use their carving talents to instruct/demonstrate to the membership. Several club members have volunteered to demonstrate woodcarving at the Matthews Farmer’s Market this month. We have also been contacted by a local Boy Scout Troop to demonstrate carving for 50-60 scouts. We welcome opportunities like this to showcase the artistry of woodcarving to the public.

The Board has approved the purchase of new LED tube lights for the Cathcart Center. Club volunteers will install them this month. We are all looking forward to a brighter area for carving.

Many thanks go Bob Benston and his committee for securing a new venue for our 2019 Woodcarvers Show. Having the Show at a new location will require participation from as many club members as possible. Please contact Bob and volunteer your time and talents to help make this another successful show.

It is with sad hearts to learn of the passing of one of our members, Debra Downer. Debra was a warm and wonderful person as well as a talented carver and painter. Debra was a friend to everyone she meet. She will be missed. Happy Carving !!!

Al Wheeler,
President

THE FREEDOM OF CARVING OPENS THE MIND TO UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES

This is my first newsletter as the new President of the Charlotte Woodcarvers Club. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Warner and all of the club members that have served on the Board of Directors, and all the other various volunteers that have worked so tirelessly to make this club what it is today. I would also like to recognize Bob Benston and his Show Committee for their extraordinary efforts to secure a new venue for our 2019 Woodcarver Show. Some of you may not know that the Marion Diehl Center will not be available to us for at least 2 years due to construction and may not even be available after that. I am confident that Bob and his group will be able to find a suitable facility soon.
April continues to be a busy month for the club with carving classes for the new members finishing up and the chip carving class instructed by Paul DesRosiers beginning. Rod Gatlin instructed a beginner’s class on carving faces and intends to hold a more advanced class soon. Thanks to all who stepped up so that we are able to help club members improve their woodcarving skills. Also in April club members have signed up to demonstrate wood carving at the Reid House in Matthews, NC.
Unleash your creativity. I would like to challenge each member to try something new in the art of woodcarving. If you haven’t tried carving caricatures or chip carving or birds or pyrography, get out of your comfort zone. You never know what you can do unless you try.

If you think you can or if you think you can’t….you’re right
Henry Ford

Happy Carving!
Al Wheeler
President