The “Artistry in Wood” Competition and Show celebrated its 40th anniversary over the weekend.
The weekend-long event at Bucks County Technical High School, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Delaware Valley Wood Carvers, allowed artisans to showcase their work, sell pieces and compete. Competition is broken down into three categories; Novice, Intermediate and Advanced.
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A prominent presence at the event was the Whittle Awhile Club, located in Bristol Township. Members from the club have a number of tables to show off and sell their work. Throughout the space, workers mingle and chat while appreciating the work other carvers put into their craft.
Rick Ross is a new addition to Whittle Awhile. He joined in October and since then, has capitalized on his long-time interest. An accountant by trade, Ross said that there is something missing when creativity isn’t a part of your days.
“It’s like being on a hamster wheel. You go around and around, but you really don’t create anything,” Ross said.
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Since getting involved, Ross has been creating a number of carvings, one of which took second place in the novice category at the show.
Although Ross had a longtime interest in carving and other types of art in wood, it took him a long time to capitalize on his innate interest and begin.
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“I found excuses, and, if you find excuses, you aren’t going to do it,” he said, urging anyone who has an interest to try the craft out is a huge role of the annual show.
Freedom Steps also had a table at the show. Freedom Steps is an organization that sends care packages to members of the military who are in other countries. The Wood Carving Association contributed by creating a “Freedom Stick,” that would be raffled off.
Whittle Awhile meets Monday mornings at the Bristol Township Senior Center from 9 a.m. until noon and Thursday nights at the Bucks County Technical High School from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Anyone with an interest in wood artistry is encouraged to attend.
