(Click to view... 71KB)Well, let this be a lesson to those of us who have lamented, “I can never compete with those folks.” First-time exhibitor and “new kid on the block” David Seagraves from Elizabeth, Ill., won top honors at the 32nd International Woodcarvers Congress, held this past June 22-28 at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa. David’s Native American carving entitled “Blackhawk” [see cover] was judged best-of-show, and earned him a $1,500 cash award from long-time Congress sponsor Henry Taylor Tools.
J. Christopher White from Loveland, Colo., swept the first and second runner-up to best-of-show categories, earning him a $500 gift certificate from Woodcraft Supply Corporation. Chris also received the $500 cash award from Wood magazine in the prestigious People’s Choice competition for his intricate carving entitled “Songbirds in the Making.”
Other special awards included Wildfowl Carving and Collecting magazine’s $250 cash award, presented to William Gehrke from Western Springs, Ill., for his astounding realistic carving “Surprise Attack.”
The Flexcut Creativity Award of $500 cash went to Marv Kaisersatt of Faribault, Minn., for his unique and humorous carving entitled “He Who Gets It Not,” and the Cecil Wakefield Award for Unusual Interpretation went to Lisa Gilmer of Fountain Inn, S.C., for her wonderful carving of “Quiet Morning.”
These awards are just a few of the almost $18,000 in cash and merchandise awarded at the 32nd Congress.