“We’re all students,” says Dennis Thorton of Guilford, N.Y.
The prior Rockland County Police Officer is a carving king, part of an elite group of 25 caricature wood carvers, known as the Caricature Carvers of America or CCA.
About 200 wood carvers from all over the country have gathered at Cherry Ridge Campsites and Lodging in Cherry Ridge, for four days of free instruction and fun. The sixth annual Northeast Woodcarvers Roundup got underway Sunday and goes till Wednesday.
The idea was born by George and Ann Reinfried of Lancaster, PA, who’d attended a roundup in Michigan years back. When they wondered if the idea would be embraced on the east coast, a friend, Sandy Holder of the Michigan Roundup reassured, “If you have it, they will come.” How right she was. The first year, 125 people attended with 16 workshops being held. “Now we’ve blossomed to 26-30 workshops, including evenings,” Mrs. Reinfried said. The roundup is free, carvers just pay for project materials. Thanks to campground owners Al and Cindy Waiter, classes are held in a beautiful nature setting.
“Something for everyone”
“We’ve had people who started carving six years ago and they are now leading workshops,” Mrs. Reinfried said. She does freestyle chip carving and Alpine relief. The intricate, hand hewn masterpieces mean much to those who receive them. “We have seven children and everything my husband makes goes to my kids,” she says with a smile.
Mrs. Reinfried says they have something for everyone. Beginners workshops are for teenagers, age 14 and up. And kids as young as five years-old enjoy soap carving.
Soap carving brings back memories for instructor George Basehore of Middletown, near Harrisburg. He was all of 10 years old and attending church camp. The idea was to turn a bar of soap into an elephant. “I did soap chips,” he says with a laugh. He’s come a long way since soap chips. “If I can do it, anybody can ...You never know until you try,” he says. Hand carved Springer Spaniels adorn the display behind him, testifying to his talent. He was inspired by his wife who raises the intelligent breed, he says, and still has the very first relief carving he did of one.
Ask him how long it takes to make each unique piece, and he says with a smile, “When I worked, I punched a clock. When I’m woodcarving, I don’t worry about it.”
