20/Jan/2008
Meet Your Neighbor:
Retired Teacher Finds Bird Watching
Pastime Within Woodcarving Hobby
By Pat Friedrich
Just like the birth of a baby, the process of creating a woodcarving makes every piece an original. Each is created from its very own unique piece of wood. The grain is different, as are the knots and natural imperfections. And because they are carved with love by humans, and not machine, they all have their very own unique character.
Central resident Edna Speyrer was drawn to woodcarving as a college student more than four decades ago. While at McNeese State University, she came upon a carved figure in a local store. The cost was $50, which was too much for a struggling college student.
“I can do that,” Edna thought to herself. Using a pocketknife Edna created a beautiful mahogany bull. She carved another bull and two horses before putting her talent on hold while carving out a career as a teacher.
Twenty years ago, the carving bug took hold again. When Edna went to a meeting of the Pelican Woodcarver’s Guild and saw the work of other carvers she was “in awe.” Her first carved bird was a mockingbird.
Although wood carvers create everything from duck decoys to butterflies to human figures, Edna creates bird carvings. Eagles, owls and other birds adorn her shop. Her backyard is a mecca for ideas as birds of all kinds find a home in her trees.
“Although I am not an official bird watcher, I do find myself studying birds,” she said. The way a bird lands or gets ready to fly may become a new pose for a yet unborn creation of Edna’s. “Bird carving has given me a deep respect for wildlife.”
A retired teacher and a life long learner, Edna knew that the way to improve her art was to go back to school. For the past ten years Edna Speyrer has studied with some of the best including her mentor, Floyd Scholz of Vermont, a self taught carver. Edna travels yearly to his five to ten day seminars where she works long hours to improve her craft.
Edna finds carving requires patience and focus. She can spend up to ten hours at a time in her shop, slowly bringing a block of wood to life.
When asked which of her carvings her favorite one is, Edna laughs and responds, “My last one. My favorite is always the one I have just finished.”
Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild
The Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild of Baton Rouge is a great place to find fellow carvers. The guild was formed in 1978, and its goal is to encourage the “art and craft of woodcarving as a hobby or professional endeavor.” They meet on the third Monday of the month at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center at 7:00 p.m.
Many of the guild’s members also offer weekly woodcarving classes at the Council On Aging Facility on Florida Boulevard and Saint Martha’s Activity Center on Bishop Ott Drive. Outside artists are also invited to share their work. Members have shows. Edna and other members have displayed their work at the Greenwell Springs Library.
If you are interested in learning more about the Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild of Baton Rouge visit http://pelicanwoodcarversguild.com .
If you are interested in purchasing woodcarvings from Edna Speyher, contact her at 485-1374, or visit the St. Francisville Art and Antique Store to see her current work.
Retired Teacher Finds Bird Watching
Pastime Within Woodcarving Hobby
By Pat Friedrich
Just like the birth of a baby, the process of creating a woodcarving makes every piece an original. Each is created from its very own unique piece of wood. The grain is different, as are the knots and natural imperfections. And because they are carved with love by humans, and not machine, they all have their very own unique character.
Central resident Edna Speyrer was drawn to woodcarving as a college student more than four decades ago. While at McNeese State University, she came upon a carved figure in a local store. The cost was $50, which was too much for a struggling college student.
“I can do that,” Edna thought to herself. Using a pocketknife Edna created a beautiful mahogany bull. She carved another bull and two horses before putting her talent on hold while carving out a career as a teacher.
Twenty years ago, the carving bug took hold again. When Edna went to a meeting of the Pelican Woodcarver’s Guild and saw the work of other carvers she was “in awe.” Her first carved bird was a mockingbird.
Although wood carvers create everything from duck decoys to butterflies to human figures, Edna creates bird carvings. Eagles, owls and other birds adorn her shop. Her backyard is a mecca for ideas as birds of all kinds find a home in her trees.
“Although I am not an official bird watcher, I do find myself studying birds,” she said. The way a bird lands or gets ready to fly may become a new pose for a yet unborn creation of Edna’s. “Bird carving has given me a deep respect for wildlife.”
A retired teacher and a life long learner, Edna knew that the way to improve her art was to go back to school. For the past ten years Edna Speyrer has studied with some of the best including her mentor, Floyd Scholz of Vermont, a self taught carver. Edna travels yearly to his five to ten day seminars where she works long hours to improve her craft.
Edna finds carving requires patience and focus. She can spend up to ten hours at a time in her shop, slowly bringing a block of wood to life.
When asked which of her carvings her favorite one is, Edna laughs and responds, “My last one. My favorite is always the one I have just finished.”
Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild
The Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild of Baton Rouge is a great place to find fellow carvers. The guild was formed in 1978, and its goal is to encourage the “art and craft of woodcarving as a hobby or professional endeavor.” They meet on the third Monday of the month at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center at 7:00 p.m.
Many of the guild’s members also offer weekly woodcarving classes at the Council On Aging Facility on Florida Boulevard and Saint Martha’s Activity Center on Bishop Ott Drive. Outside artists are also invited to share their work. Members have shows. Edna and other members have displayed their work at the Greenwell Springs Library.
If you are interested in learning more about the Pelican Woodcarvers’ Guild of Baton Rouge visit http://pelicanwoodcarversguild.com .
If you are interested in purchasing woodcarvings from Edna Speyher, contact her at 485-1374, or visit the St. Francisville Art and Antique Store to see her current work.
