IN THIS MORNING'S "CRUISIN' CONNECTICUT" — THE "CONNECTICUT WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION" — SCULPTING NATURAL WORKS OF ART — ONE NOTCH AT A TIME. CARVING ENTHUSIASTS PASSING DOWN THE LOST ART TO SCOUT TROOPS AND NEW ARTISTS. NEWS 8'S RYAN KRISTAFER VISITED THE "CONNECTICUT FOREST AND PARK ASSOCIATION" IN MIDDLEFIELD FOR AN INSIDE LOOK! RYAN — GOOD MORNING. THIS ISN'T WOODSHOP FROM WHAT YOU REMEMBER FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THESE CARVERS ARE FULL OF PASSION! 3 SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WOOD CARVING?"APPROXIMATELY 70 YEARS."SO DID YOU START BEFORE YOU WERE BORN OR WHAT?"I STARTED DURING WORLD WAR TWO.
I PREFER EITHER AN AVAILABLE TYPE OF WOOD WHICH AROUND HERE IS WHITE PINE.""THIS TYPE OF WOOD WORKING GOES BACK CENTURIES. MOST FARMHOUSES HAD SHAVE HORSES. WE USE THEM FOR SKINNING OUR STICKS.""THE WALKING STICK PROGRAM WE STARTED WITH THE CONNECTICUT FOREST AND PARK ASSOCIATION, WE'VE DONE STICKS FOR THEIR 5K WALK AND RUN. THIS STICK IN MY HAND IS THE STICK THAT KICKED OFF THE WHOLE PROGRAM. WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MS I COMPLETED IT AND THE CAP IS TWISTED BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE OF THE MS."WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS CREATION HERE?"I JUST CALL IT MY MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT."DO YOU KEEP IT IN YOUR BASEMENT?"I WORK ON IT IN MY BASEMENT."HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?"HUNDREDS OF HOURS.""WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT THE PIECE IN HERE IT STARTED LOOKING LIKE A HOUSE SO I'LL TRY TO PUT SOME HOUSE TYPE FEATURES IN HERE."OH THIS IS A PIECE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
I LIKE TO CALL IT FAMILY REUNION. LOOK YOU HAVE KEITH KOUNTZ AND GIL SIMMONS AND LAURA HUTCHINSON AND OH LOOK EVEN TERESA.ARE THE MUTTON CHOPS A REQUIREMENT TO BE IN THE ASSOCIATION?"UH DEFINITELY."SO I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO."HAHA, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON THAT." 3 THE CONNECTICUT WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS – THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CT FOREST AND PARK ASSOCIATION FOR HAVING US..