2000 Highlights
(Click on images to enlarge them)
2000 Best of show
What's "Love got to do...got to do with it?
What question has been made very popular by the ageless, singing sensation, Tina Turner. What has it got to do with this years Best of Show winner? That's the title of Peter Ortel's award-winning caricature scene. How many times have we heard the term "This is truly a labor of love."? In the case of this year's Best of Show winner, it is true, without a doubt. Pete had been tossing around the idea of this carving for quite a few years. The title "Love", is simple, yet very powerful, in its meaning. If any of you ever had the opportunity of meeting Pete's wonderful wife, Madilyn, you would notice the striking resemblance between her and the "come alive" model in the scene. Since deciding on caricatures to be his area of greatest interest in woodcarving, Pete had secretly thought how nice it would be if a caricature carver would take Best of Show honors at the Congress. Little did he know his wish would be self-fulfilling. Peter's thrill of victory was all the more enhanced with the receipt of the $1500.00 Henry Taylor Best of Show Cash Award. Pete hails from Monroe, New York. Even though love has no bounds, this one measures 18" x 18" x 15"
2000 First runner-up
"Announcing the Millennium" earned Rex Branson a First Runner-up Best of Show Award. Rex, from Afton, Oklahoma, depicts the struggle between good and evil with this massive carving of an angel conquering a demon. The carving measures 23" x 26" x 43" tall. It earned Rex a First Place in Class 931 - Religious, then went on to take a First Place in Group L - Mythical. Rex earned a $500 cash award sponsored by the Mid-America Woodcarvers Association of Omaha, NE and a $500 Gift Certificate from Woodcraft Supply Corp., Parkersburg, WV.
2000 Second runner-up
OK, now follow closely. The name of the carving pictured above is "Taste the Soup of Madness". So far, so good. Now, Fred Cogelow's explanation of the carving: A delightfully lyrical ode to the phantasmorphic rutabaga. Yup, confused me too. But, that's ol' Fred. Being in contention for Best of Show has been something Fred's been known for, along with confusing the world with his enigmatic lexis. His unusual creation took a First Place in the Open Class competition, then went on to garner Second Runner-up Best of Show honors. Dastra Tools of the Bronx, New York graciously supplied the $500 cash award for the Second Runner-up Best of Show. The Fredgelow masterpiece measures 8 1/2" x 7 3/4" x 12".
The Wood Magazine Peoples' Choice Award
This is the first time since the Peoples Choice Award has been in existence that the judges and the general public all agreed on what was their favorite carving. Of course, the judges choice is based on a number of different technical factors while the public usually votes from the heart. Either way, Peter Ortel was flying high Sunday afternoon when the announcement was made. The $500 Peoples Choice Cash Award has been sponsored by WOOD Magazine for a number of years.
The Flexcut Creativity Award
Here is Rex Branson's First Runner-up Best of Show piece. The judges chose this piece for the "The Flexcut Creativity Award". This award, a $500 cash 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." The award is sponsored by Dave Bennett, the owner of Falls Run Woodcarving and manufacturer of Flexcut carving tools.
The Alice Vaughn Memorial Award
Does this piece look familiar? It should, it's by the same person who won the Alice Vaughn Memorial Award last year. In fact, it's a very similar pose to last years' winner, only Debbe Edwards has this piece fully textured and painted unlike last years' piece done in a natural finish. Winning First Place in Class 401 - Realistic Animal Figure/Head is what earns the carver the memorial award. Alice, one of our former directors, loved animal carving and was an accomplished carver herself. Debbe, from Miami, Oklahoma, also earned top honors in the entire animal group - Group D. Her piece measures 7" x 5" x 10". The award is a $100 cash award sponsored by AWC Board Member, Larry Cornwell in Alice's honor.
The Bob Austin Memorial Award
The Bob Austin Memorial Award for the 2000 Congress was won by a carver from the town of Sonora, California. The $100 cash award is given to the First Place winner in Class 902 - Realistic Group Animals. It was won by Mary Kruetzfeldt. The award is sponsored by Bob's local club, the Belleville Holzschnitzers.
The Most Unusual Biblical Interpretation Award
Once again, Sandy and George Foral sponsored a cash award for a carving with "the most unusual biblical interpretation". Their $175 award was broken down to a 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. place carving. The First Place winner is pictured here. The "Head of Christ" is the work of Eliodoro Cadawas from Chicago, Illinois. This isn't a "purchase award", but an award to promote fine, biblically-oriented carvings in the Congress competition.
CCA Merit Award
This is a close-up of an old dowager named "Overda Hill". Her creator, Jim DuPont, is the recipient of this years CCA Merit award. The award is given by members of the Caricature Carvers of America to a carver who shows the most creativity, originality or potential in caricature carving, not necessarily to the top ribbon winner. In this case, Jim did get a Blue Ribbon with this of gal. She can be seen, in full view, on the next page.
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 along time MVWA member and past AWC Director, Merle Byram. Carole Boyd's carving titled: "Father Christmas" earned the award for the Millbrook, Alabama resident.