Hometown Rankin - December 2015 & January 2016

“I enjoy carving because it’s relaxing. It’s my quiet time, and it
takes all my stress away. I love the joy of seeing characters emerge
out of a piece of wood.” Buie said he carves caricatures,
snowmen and Santas.
This years’ show had more in the open class than ever
before, but the entries in the interim and novice classes were
down. “That shows that we need to recruit more folks,”
Buie said.
Horace McNeal serves as the Guild’s
president. A resident of Pelahatchie, McNeal
only joined the group in 2013. “I started
carving in 2012,” he said. “I attempted carving
in prior years, but it didn’t really go anywhere.
Then I met a gentleman in Rankin County who helped
me get started. I ordered some tools and he helped me
until I felt confident on my own.”
The attendance for this year’s show was good, according
to McNeal. “We had demos throughout the day, and those were
well attended. Everybody seems to like to learn something new.”
The woodcarvers in the Guild are from all different walks of life,
and all ages. The scope of their work is broad, and there’s a strong
emphasis on encouraging one another. The monthly meetings
feature various speakers and artisans who provide informative
seminars and workshops, and the public is always welcomed.
A typical meeting consists of a word of welcome by the president,
introduction of guests, presenting of a carving project consisting of
a cut-out and a pattern, a “show and tell” time, special program and
a give-away of donated items related to woodcarving. The club
maintains a free lending library of books about woodcarving and
related subjects that can be checked out by members.
From the inception of the Pearl River Woodcarvers organization,
the experienced wood carvers sit with beginner carvers and help
them carve a heart, mostly out of donated basswood or water tupelo.
The patterns are taken from books and magazines, or sometimes
original patterns by club members. “We want to expose as many
people to woodcarving as we can,” said McNeal. n
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For more information, visit www.pearlriverwoodcarvers.org.
76 • December 2015/January 2016