National Carvers Museum

[ho3carver]

Re: National Carvers Museum

I was told the museum closed in the late 80's. Carvings were returned to the carvers. For those that could not be returned, they were auctioned off. I knew several carvers from Oregon that donated carvings to the museum.

[whittlewomen]

Re: National Carvers Museum

I startedcarving in 1984 and was fortunate enough to go the the museum carving rendevous twice. There were around three hundred carvers there from all over the United States! RV's were pretty new and were parked everywhere. I met and carved with Spike Boyd, Jack Price, Bobbie Thurman, Joe Wannamker, Claude Bolton, May Johnson, Dave Stetson, Steve Prescott, Jack Portice and many others. Classes were short and cheap. People were there to promote woodcarving and get to know others. Things were for sale, carvings, wood, tools, but most of all the talent was in abundance!! I made many friends that I have kept throughout the years and have seen at many different states while carving. Carvers are true friends, never hesitating to open their homes and hearts to fellow carvers.
I have carved 1896 "little people" thanks to a four hour class from Jack Price. Taught many others and continue to carve every day. I think the experience I got from those many years ago started my passion for the art that I so enjoy.
It was a sad day the museum closed, many hurt feelings, many carvings lost, but most of all a wonderful experience that brought so many of us together that others cannot have.
Sharon Elliott "Whittlewomen"

[DiamondWillow]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Was located at Monument, Colorado. North of Colorado Springs, right beside the interstate highway to Denver. Wife and I stopped there a number of years ago and spent several hours just looking around and enjoying the many carvings. Was sorry to hear it had failed.

Gene

[Bob K.]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Thanks Gene...I was thinking of Chip Chats which I still receive from NWCA, not the Mallet.

[Terry Vance]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Like I said at the beginning I got a good deal on a lot of issues of "The Mallet".

Looking through some of the mags, I saw that a lot of people were miffed about the museum. Dealt mainly around the "life memberships". It is a shame that it closed. I remember an instructor that came to our carving club back in the 90's as I recall and he was all out in trying to save it. Hopefully when I get to read some more of the mags more information will come to light.

One thing I noticed as I looked through the mags is what an influence Andy Anderson had on caricature carving. There were a lot of carvings pictured that showed his style.

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions.

[Bob Tamillo]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Lynn is correct on the Colorado location of this museum. My wife and I visited it while on vacation in 1977-78. It was just north of the Air Force Academy off I-25 Stopping there on a whim is what got me first interested in carving. I bought a couple of blanks & a set of X-acto knives, a carving book by Harold Enlow and haven't stopped carving since.
Also as noted, I agree that wood carving has really come a long way since then just as Native American Kachina carving has from the (traditional) stoic looking idols done for the tourist trade, to what's refered to as the the "action" figures that are done today.
Mostly, I believe the advances in carving style(s), is in the details that carvers in all genres now apply no matter what their subject: be it caricature, relief, or chip carving, or heck, just plain whittlin'. And that's because we as carvers have grown in our individual ability, skill and artistry thru the encouragement and fellowship of the great carvers we see and meet on this web-site or at carving clubs & shows. I welcome it all, but sure do wish there was a National Carving Museum available once again.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Re: National Carvers Museum

No! This one was located near Colorado Springs if I remember correctly.

[pallin]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Is this the same (or related to the) National Woodcarving Museum that was (is) near Custer, South Dakota about 15 years ago?

[gene-messer]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Thanks for clearing that up Lynn .. I had talked to several carvers who were very upset at the time of the closing and were claiming this .. but I wasnt sure it was the full truth .. alot of rumors of why it closed to bad management to money handling was also a gripe back then .. but the people I met at the museum seemed very honest and straightforward

Gene

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Re: National Carvers Museum

They didn't auction off the carvings against the carvers wishes.....they first ask those they could find whether they wanted them back. I know as my Father had several in the museum and they were returned. As far as I know only those not claimed were otherwise disposed of.

Yes, it was a neat place to visit. Unfortunately, there was so many carvings squeezed into such a small place that it was almost impossible to concentrate on any one thing. I too have a few of the old Mallet issues and it's nice to go back and see how the quality of carving then compares to that being produced now. It's pretty clear, to me anyway, that we've come a long way since then.

[gene-messer]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Bob .. the Mallet carving magazine went out of existance years ago with the museum .. now this isnt Chip Chats .. its the Mallet and it looks like the magazine below
Gene

[Bob K.]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Thanks for the update Gene...I've been getting The Mallet for 30 years...never knew that happened! Are they still in financial ruin and are they going to continue publishing the magazine?

[Kadiddle]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Thanks for the tour Terry. Thanks for the up-date Gene. Seemed like a very nice place. To bad it ended like it did.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[bzcarvn]

Re: National Carvers Museum

gene-messer, good commentary on the museum, especially your last line. It was a sad ending to a great idea.

[gene-messer]

Re: National Carvers Museum

Terry
The National Carvers Museum was a wonderful carving museum in Monument Colorado .. I was a member and visited it several times and the carvings it it were by some of the finest carvers around .. It was a somewhat a large museum .. and the quality of the pieces were great .. quite a experience seeing it .. The Museum put out a carving magazine to help fund it called "The Mallet"
But unfortunately because of reasons I personally dont know .. it ran into financial problems and went somewhat bankrupt .. I remember when it happen .. Iam not positive .. but I believe the carvings were auctioned off for past debt and alot of carvers and their famlies that donated to the museum werent too happy about this ..The whole thing wasnt a pleasant experience for carvers and The ruin of the beautiful museum and one of a kind carvings left a bad taste in alot of members mouths .. Unfortunately .. it was a very sad ending to a great idea for a woodcarving museum .
Gene