Blackhawk Chipper
 

Meeting Times

There are two evening meetings per month, which are held at the Ken-Rock Community Center at 3218-11^th Street, Rockford, IL.

The first meeting is on the first Tuesday and is an open carving meeting from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Join the gang and bring your friends

The second meeting is on the third Tuesday, November 15th and is the business meeting, starting at 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

Every Wednesday is open carving from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Come and join the gang, bring a friend! Enjoy a taco.

All our meetings are aimed at enjoying one another passion for woodcarving. Always there is a lot of carving information traded back and forth, and of course the life interest stories, "three for a dollar" are worth the gas mileage and time.

The Blackhawk Woodcarvers Monthly Business Meeting was called to order by President Elaine Terrell. Old minutes and Treasurer's report were read and approved.

Old Business

Miscellaneous past field trips were reviewed by Elaine.

No New business

Our guest speaker was Mickey Bowman who presented "stone sculpturing" by providing a background of the art and a sculpturing demonstration. We discovered that Alabaster stone and walnut wood have similar hardness. Alabaster having beautiful color is one of the easier stones to carve. On the opposite end of "ease of carving" is Mahogany Granite being one of the hardest to sculpture; needing diamond-cutting tools. He finds Indiana limestone as one of his favorite stones. Also of interest is finding a good piece of Northern Illinois limestone located along a creek bottom or at a river's edge. His scope of tools included files, grinders, chisels and mallets.

Show & Tell

Gordy Moscinski----Relief carving of a forest

John Bibby---Chip carved icicle with a leaf design

Kevin Rackley---A large eagle…He wanted some suggestions on how to make the wings flutter (good luck Kevin.)

Dave Hoffman---A couple of shore birds.

I experienced a sense of pride during our tour of the Rockford Museum; a pride directed at the carvers who were respecting an unusual exhibition and were understanding that the meaning of art is different for everyone. To repeat myself, "carvers are artists." By recognizing that as wood carvers, we are able to express ourselves that is worthy to accept. The ideas are there. All that is needed is to re-jumble the images and remove the chips to watch an object emerge. As Ansel Adams, a long ago noted USA northwestern photographer once said, "all the words are in the dictionary and even in alphabetical order, which all one has to do, is to get them in right order to express yourself."

Keep your tools sharp

Roger Benedict

February 21^st----Guest speaker Ozzie Webb on powered Dremel carving with demos and discussion.

March 21^st---Guest speaker John Susin on his carved Santas from his article in Chip Chats

April 18^th---Guest speaker Guy Fiorenza on his collection of Joe Tagart's circus wagon miniature carvings and with a video of a miniature circus big top.

May 16^th---Guest speaker Bob Matthews on his carved and painted birds with demos and discussion.

June 20^th----Roger Benedict leading a session on carving a leaf in a relief form.

July 18^th----Steve Coogan, local artist, will lead us through a sketching session on drawing what you see.

Ozzie Webb is a Rockford wood carver who uses a dremel exclusively for his work. During a "home show" at Bob's Hardware, Ozzie was demonstrating his technique and showing his work. He has been retired for many years and spent significant time, since 1982, volunteering for International Executives Service. He has travels to 13 different countries by assisting local companies in manufacturing processes and tooling. Countries located in Africa, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe have benefited from his expertise. Ozzie is from Rockford…..born and raised. His dremel carving work dates back to 1962, where he became interested beyond his drawing hobby. He will speak on the dremel subject of carving and demonstrate several of his tools and techniques.

On January 22, 2006 Dave Hoffman had to leave us upon passing away at OSF Saint Anthony Hospital. His carving life with the Blackhawk Woodcarvers will not be forgotten; how can you forget Dave's sense of humor, love for carving, and his generous sharing of his carvings during "show and tell?" Of course, we always knew Dave's presence with that husky voice, and while knowing that he struggled with his hearing, everyone including Dave found a way to laugh through the times. He was a good model for all of us! One last thing, Dave while you are looking down upon us from above, did you really carve those many different walnut ducks, or were you showing the same one for each Show & tell?

All of us of the Blackhawk Woodcarvers wish the very best for the Dave Hoffman family at this time of sadness. With nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren to carry on the legacy, Dave Hoffman will never be forgotten.

Among us are members who need a warm wish of good health and recovery.

John Bibby and Roger Benedict are exhibiting their carving work at Womanspace Gallery. Womanspace is a retreat and cultural-art center for women; the address is 3333 Maria Linden Drive, which is off of Springbrook Road. Call before you go, 877-0118.

February 18-19….Sterling, IL, Rock River Carvers showcase at Northland Mall. David Meyer (815) 537-1291

March 19-19….Wheaton, IL, North Suburban Carvers annual Spring Artistry in Wood exhibit by members only at Cantigny Park. John Hackemer (630) 355-6598

March 25….Sheboygan, WI, Kettle Karvers Klub 16^th show and competition at Sheboygan Falls Municipal Building (920) 458-7422

April 30….Oshkosh WI, Mid Wisconsin Chippers annual show and competition at Winnebago County Expo Center. Bob Gehr (920) 725-5391

May 20-21….Bloomington, IL, Corn Belt Carving Club annual Sculpture in Wood show and sale at Challenger Learning Center. Mike Hartzler (309) 662-4276

June 17-26….Davenport, IA, International Woodcarvers Competition seminars and show sponsored by Affiliated Wood Carvers. Larry Yudis (563) 359-9684 or Chester James

August 19….Rockford, IL, Blackhawk Woodcarvers 12^th annual show and competition at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. Roger Benedict (815) 988-3314

September 10….Madison, WI, Capital Carvers of WI 18^th annual show at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

October 28-29….Wheaton, IL, North Suburban Carvers 27^th Artistry in Wood exhibition And competition at DuPage County Fairgrounds. Terri Pijut (847) 458-2919

Dues should be paid up by now. However, if you still need to catch up, please contact John Wacker our new Treasurer.

Please forward any club or member information for the newsletter. This should be sent to Roger Benedict during the last week of every month.

Date is Saturday, August 19, 2006. Begin to think about your part to volunteer for the many activities to make this a success. Planning meetings will begin the first of the year.

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