1999 Highlights
(click on image to enlarge)
1999 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.
1999 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.
1999 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 Flexcut Creativity Award
This is the third year for the $500 cash award given by Dave Bennett, the owner of Falls Run Woodcarving and manufacturer 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 art form of carving as an expressive medium through their creative carving techniques and fresh insight of subject matter." As you can see by the picture above, Alvin Felch took the idea of carving a fireplace surround to another level. His beautiful piece measures 66" x 4" x 60" and is titled: "Elkhart Lake". Alvin, from Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, also took home First Place honors in the Ornamental Class 302 and Best of Group honors in Group C - Abstract and Ornamental Carvings.
The Wood Magazine Peoples' Choice Award
There must have been a lot of fisherpersons going through the show this year. Either that or the majority of the people voting for WOOD Magazine Peoples Choice Award just plain liked the beauty of this stylized trout done by Ted Richmond from Wichita, Kansas. "Flycaster's Dream" caught the peoples' attention and reeled in the $500 cash award sponsored by WOOD. The piece measures 24" x 24" x 36" tall. Ted also earned First Place in Class 703 - Stylized Fish and took Best of Group G honors. What a way to put a crummy ol' piece of driftwood to good use!
The Alice Vaughn Memorial Award
Alice Vaughn, our former Board Director, animal carver and dear friend, would have been especially proud of the choice for her memorial award this year. She really liked Debbe Edwards' work; more so, when done in a natural finish. Debbe, from Miami, Oklahoma, titled her piece "Challenge". It measures 8" x 8" x 14". Taking First Place in Class 401 - Realistic Animal Figure/Head earned the memorial award. The judges liked it well enough to give it top honors in the entire animal group - Group D. Debbe received a $100 cash award sponsored by AWC Board Member, Larry Cornwell and his wife, Sara, in Alice's honor.
The Merle Byram Memorial Award
Being a First Place winner in Class 929 - Santa Claus gets you a $ 100 cash award from the Mississippi Valley Woodcarvers Association. The award is sponsored in honor of a long time MVWA member and past AWC Director, Merle Byram. Gary Falin's carving titled: "Too Many Cookies" earned the $100 for the Alcoa, Tennessee resident.
The Bob Austin Memorial Award
The "Bob Austin Memorial Award" winner is so good this year, we needed to show it to you twice! Go back to Best of Show page and linger on the First Runner-up Best of Show piece. Then take a little closer look at Clyde Taylor's magnificent mooses pictured to the right. Bob’s local club, the Belleville Holzschnitzers, sponsors this award. The $ 100 cash award is given to the First Place winner in Class 902 - Realistic Group Animals.