2001 Highlights
(Click on images to enlarge them)
2001 Best in show
Never before, at the International Woodcarvers Congress, has a carving made such an impression with the judges, carvers and general public. This beautifully detailed carving of three little pups, being playfully inquisitive with a turtle, is called: "New Adventures". As you will see in the following pages of this Show Report, this carving has taken more awards than has been earned by a single carving at any previous Congress. The judges, once again, had an extremely tough job on their hands. There were so many high caliber carvings, in many different styles, that it was very difficult to narrow it down to the best. They finally had to get to the point of really "picking nits" to determine the winner. They simply couldn't find much wrong with this masterfully done piece.
Cliff Bulkow is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is the creator of "New Adventures". Cliff, 41 years old, started carving after being influenced by his uncle. He picked up some painting techniques from his sign-painting father. I think the picture of Cliff was taken shortly after he was given the Henry Taylor $1500 Best of Show Cash Award. That would make anyone smile! We are very grateful to the folks at Henry Taylor Tools in Sheffield, England for their continued support of the Congress competition.
2001 First runner-up
"Maddening Disposition" aka: "Takes more'n one wumin to drive a good man nuts", is the work of perennial favorite Fred Cogelow, Willmar, Minnesota. This most unusual caricaturization of man and his plight with the fairer sex earned the First Runner-up Best of Show Award for Fred. He 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. The carving, measuring 18" x 10" x 21 ", placed First in the Open Class competition.
2001 Second runner-up
David B. Johnson hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was the second artist to come up through the ranks to capture one of the top three awards at this year's Congress. His very soulful rendition of a man attending one too many funerals is called: "Another Funeral". His creation took a First Place in Class 850, went on to take a First Place in Group J - Human Figure - Bust/Head/Mask, and ultimately went on to garner Second Runner-up Best of Show honors. AWC member, exhibitor and long-time friend of the Congress, Tyler Lennington, Tremont, Illinois graciously donated the $500 cash award for the Second Runner-up Best of Show. David's very poignant piece measures 36" x 14" x 14".
The Dastra Tools Peoples Choice Award
For the second year in a row, the judges and the viewing public were in agreement of which carving they like best of all those in compe tition. I'm guessing Cliff Bulkow won his Best of Show on different criteria than what was used to choose the Peoples Choice Award. Let's face it, when the people coming to the show saw those three puppies, a bunch of them were hooked. Their choice was made! The $500 Peoples Choice Cash Award is sponsored by Dastra Tools. They are imported by Frank Mittermeier, Inc. from the Bronx, New York.
The Flexcut Creativity Award
As was mentioned on our cover page, Cliff Bulkow's "New Adventures" won more awards than any other single carving in any previous Congress competition. The show judges are the ones who choose a special award called "The Flexcut Creativity Award". The $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 Flexcut Carving Tools, Inc.
The Bob Austin Memorial Award
The Bob Austin Memorial Award is a $100 Cash Award given tothe First Place winner in Class 902 - Realistic Group Animals. Yep, you guessed it, of Cliff won this one too! The award is sponsored by Bob's local club, the Belleville Holzschnitzers.
The Alice Vaughn Memorial Award
Even though she is more known for her carvings of females, children and babies, Janet Denton Cordell is also an excellent animal carver, especially of the equine variety. Her horse earned Janet a First Place in Class 401 - Realistic Animal - Full Figure, thus winning the Alice Vaughn Memorial Award. Her piece measures 24" x 17" x 6". The award is a $100 Cash Award sponsored by AWC Members, Sara & Larry Cornwell 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 sponsored by Audrey Byram. She spon sored the award in honor of her husband and our past AWC Director, Merle.
Les Ramsay, Jackson Center, Pennsylvania, won the award with his carving, simply titled: "Santa".