1998 Highlights
(Click on images to enlarge them)
1998 Best in show
That was the question being asked throughout the Putnam Museum during the 1998 International Woodcarvers Congress this summer. A professional carver from Elizabeth, Illinois, David Seagraves has never entered in competition at the Congress. In fact, though not confirmed, he may have never competed at all, anywhere. As you can see by the magnificent 24" x 20" piece to the right titled, "Blackhawk", David should have been competing a long time ago. He took First Place in Class 850 - Realistic Busts, then went on to take Best Group J - Human Figure, Busts/Head/Mask. And finally, Best of Show honors went to this virtual unknown in the competitive woodcarving world. David was very pleased to accept the $1500 "Henry Taylor Best of Show Cash Award" and promised to be back next year to defend his title.
1998 First runner-up
One past Best of Show winner who came out in full force this year was J. Christopher White, now residing in Loveland, Colorado. He entered three of his highly stylized sculptures and did quite well with all three. The one pictured above, 20" x 34" x 16", is titled "Beyond the Storm". It earned Chris the First Runner-up Best of Show honor. He was awarded the Woodcraft Supply Corporation $500 Gift Certificate and $250 cash from various AWC sponsors.
1998 Second runner-up
His second big winner was an unusually long and delicate piece titled, "Beauty in the Winds". It measures 44" from top to tip of tail, of which 24" is all tail. A most difficult piece to photograph. It impressed the judges enough to take Second Runner-up Best of Show for Chris. He received a $500 cast award for his efforts. His third piece ended up taking the Peoples Choice award shown in the Special Award section. Those three pieces also took First, Second, and Third Place, respectively, in the Open Class category. The Open Class, as you probably know, is where past Best of Show winners are obliged to compete. It looks like Mr. Seagraves is going to be butting heads with the big boys after just one showing at the Congress.
The Wood Magazine Peoples' Choice Award
This is the third of J. Christopher White's carvings that did really well at the show. In the competition, it ended up in Third Place in the Open Class competition. But most important to Chris is the popularity it garnered from his peers and the general viewing public. I think he relished this award more than any ribbon he received from the judges. Chris gratefully accepted the $500 WOOD Magazine Peoples' Choice Award. "Songbirds in the Making", obviously a very eye-catching work of art, measures 36" x 21" x 21".
The Alice Vaughn Memorial Award
John Hemminghouse, Terre Haute, Indiana, had to be convinced by some of his Hoosier friends to even enter the Congress competition. He was really glad he did. By winning First Place in Class 401 - Realistic Animal Figure/Head with his life-size mouse, John received a $100 cash award sponsored by AWC Board Member, Larry Cornwell. Larry funded this award in memory of our dear friend, Alice Vaughn.
The Merle Byram Memorial Award
This award was formed as a remembrance of long time member and past AWC Director Merle Byram. Merle worked tirelessly over the years on many aspects of the show. One of his favorite carving subjects was Santas. David Boone, Burnsville, North Carolina, is the first recipient of the award sponsored by Merle's wife, his co-workers at West High School, and members of the Mississippi Valley Woodcarvers.
The Flexcut Creativity Award
This the second year for the $500 cash award given by Dave Bennett, the owner of Falls Run Woodcarving and manufacture of Flexcut carving tools. Dave donated the money, among other generous prize awards, to develop what he calls "The Flexcut Creativity Award". This award is to be given "to the artist whose treatment of wood advances the artform of carving as an expressive medium through their creative carving techniques and fresh insight of subject matter." As you can see by the picture to the left, the subject matter is indeed handled with "fresh insight". Another fresh insight is the artist who did the piece. Would you believe it's the work of Marv Kaisersatt from Faribault, Minnesota? I couldn't believe it either. See what retirement will do to you! What has happened to the King of Karicature? Marv's piece, "He who gets it not", is 22" x 7" x 8".
The Bob Austin Memorial Award
This award is sponsored by his local club, the Belleville Holzschnitzers. The $100 cash award is given to the First Place winner in Class 902 - Realistic Group Animals. This year's recipient is Debbe Edwards, Miami, Oklahoma. Her piece, titled, "Untamed Fury", measures 18" x 9" x 12".
The Cecil Wakefield Award for Unusual Interpretation
"Quiet Morning" is a very special piece for artist Lila Gilmer from Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Special in that it was chosen for the $100 cash award sponsored by Merry and Hugh Beckham: The Cecil Wakefield Award for Unusual Interpretation of Subject Matter. Please not that it was all done in a 3" x 2" x 3" space!
The CCA Merit Award
The "Story Master" had quite a tale to tell its' creator, Joe You, when it got back to Sacramento, California. Joe's caricaturization of the elfin fellow earned him "The CCA Merit Award". The ribbon, awarded by any CCA member present, doesn't necessarily go to the top winner in the caricature categories, but many times to an individual who shows the most creativity, originality or potential in that particular artform. Way to go, Joe!