Woodcarving at the Wendell Gilley Museum with Steve Valleau (Fall 2023 Handworks Festival)

Description

Carve a stylized bird – a comfort bird, sometimes called a “worry bird” – from Butternut wood using a carving knife. This beginning carving class – taught by the Wendell Gilley Museum’s master carver Steve Valleau – will cover safe knife use, sharpening, and layout. All materials supplied. Meet the Artist Steven holds a degree in biology from the University of Maine but has been carving birds since was about 11 years old. By the early 1980s, he was carving up to 200 birds a year and selling them at the Gilley’s museum store and at craft fairs. In the summer of 1985, he took a summer job teaching carving at the museum and found his place; he has been carving birds for the Gilley and teaching others the love of the craft for 37 years. Please note, that this class will not be held at ArtWaves, instead, it will be held at the Wendell Gilley Museum.