Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
DENNIS EIFOLLA, of Saxon, Wis., learns new techniques at his first wood carving class in Bessemer on Friday. A cabinet maker by trade, he wanted to try carving because it’s something new to do with wood.
INSTRUCTOR ELAINE Stenman “makes it look easy,” said Dennis Eifolla as she demonstrated proper chipping techniques to him on Friday in Bessemer.
By KATIE PERTTUNEN
Bessemer — The Gogebic Range Woodcarvers hosted a class at A.D. Johnston High School over the weekend, drawing eight aspiring and experienced carvers.
The club has been meeting regularly on the first and third Wednesday of the month for close to 25 years, said president Allen Archie. But the special annual class with visiting instructors has been going on for 14 years.
Veteran carvers Elaine and Fred Stenman come from St. Cloud, Minn., to teach class. Fred has been an artist since he was small, said Elaine. Elaine taught herself to carve 33 years ago, she said.
When Fred retired at age 55, their carving career snowballed, said Elaine, although with the economy they have been doing a lot more teaching than selling art at shows.
First-timer Dennis Eifolla, of Saxon, has a background in cabinet-making, but wanted to try the wood carving class because “it’s something new,” he said. As Elaine assisted him with his first project he said, “she makes it look easy.”
“A lot of the carvers from the class will go home and pick up new projects,” said Archie. “Some of them will hand out projects to friends and relatives, too.”
For more information about the Gogebic Range Carvers, contact Archie at 906-663-6071.
