Spiral Tree Carving Project for September Meeting

As promised months ago, V. Pres. Derek has basswood blanks available for carving spiral Chrismas Trees at third Saturday meeting of SDWC , Sept. 20.  A sharp knife and some palm chisels are all you need to create these unique works of art.

DAY NINE AT THE FAIR

Gale Berven, former president of South Dakota Woodcarvers, Inc. and  part time employee at Costco, purchased several boxes of Virginia Peanuts at a discount and donated them to the Sioux Empire Fair Woodcarving Expo.

 During the past nine days, visitors were invited to eat peanuts as they cast a ballot for Visitor's Choice and signed for a chance to win a whole box of peanuts.  Today, at 3:00 PM,  the always-willing-to-help Arts Coordinator, Wendy Sweeter, drew out the name of the lucky winner of a box of peanuts. Then votes for Visitor's Choice were counted.  It seems Craig Johnson really cleaned the house in this year's competition, winning 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place in the Intermediate Class, Overall Best of Show, and now the Visitor's Choice Award for his Coons at Home.  

Congratulations to Craig Johnson!

COONS AT HOME
by Craig Johnson
2014 Visitor's Choice Award

DAY EIGHT AT THE FAIR

THE BARN
by Larry Wilson
2nd Place in Novice Class

"STILL WORKING?" 
by Gale Berven
3rd Place Advanced Class

Vern Luke manning the display

DAY SEVEN AT THE FAIR

Home Brew Prelims-- 6 pm in the Arts Building

As "Artist of the Day" I will be showing off my home-made tin-can forge and some home-made tools. 

PARADE OF HOMES
by Dave Johnson
2nd Place in Advanced Class

JAREEM JABDUL JABBAR
by Craig Johnson
2nd Place in Intermediate Class

DAY SIX AT THE FAIR

Ag Appreciation Day

George and Me

Pie Baking Contest at noon in the Arts Building

I will be "Artist of the Day" at the woodcarving expo.



 Pyrography (wood burning) is often a catagory in wood carving competitions, even though there is no carving involved in creating the image on wood.

This one by Nancy Cummings would no doubt have gotten a ribbon if it were competing just with other wood burning entries.

GHOST TOWN by Nancy Cummings

DAY FIVE AT THE FAIR

Having had the honor of being asked repeatedly to judge the 3-D part of the Dakota MasterWorks, I appreciate the difficulty  of picking out the prize winners  from a wide variety of  subjects, styles, and formats all included in one group.  In larger competitions birds compete against birds, caricatures against caricatures,  relief carving against relief, etc. 

GONE FISHING
by Dave Johnson

Because our competition separates entries into Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced classes,  the numbers are not enough to separate further into categories.   Judge Nancyjane Huel took what I thought was an innovative and professional approach. She evaluated each entry by its own merits and considered how it would stand in its category as part of a larger or national   competition.

Because we had no Honorable Mention ribbons, none were awarded.

Here are a just a few of the entries I believe should have gotten some kind of extra special award

CUTTING FIREWOOD
By Gerald Gackle

SANTA
by Gene Dickey

EAGLEby Richard Sabers

YELLOW PERCH
by William Dickey

DAY FOUR AT THE FAIR

Derek Boekhoff is the featured Artist of the Day.  He will be demonstrating and selling some of his carvings.
See Derek's Website

EASY RIDERS
By
Dave Johnson
First Place --Advanced Class

GUIDING LIGHT
By
Craig Johnson
First Place -- Novice Class

DAY THREE AT THE FAIR

Glen Novak is the Featured Artist of the Day

Still lots of peanuts for visitors to eat.  (Glen does not eat peanuts).

Day Two at the Fair

An expert job of judging was preformed by Sioux Falls artist, Nancyjane Huel.  First place winners were: Dave Johnson--Advanced Class, Craig Johnson--Intermediate Class, and Larry Wilson--Novice Class.






Overall Best of Show went to Craig Johnson for his Coons at Home

  Visitors are invited to cast their vote for Visitor's Choice Award and sign up to win a box of Costco peanuts donated by Gale Berven.  

Derek Boekhoff is demonstrating as Artist of the Day.