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WHEELING – The Oglebay Woodcarvers Guild will host the 35th-annual wood carving show and sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30-31 at Oglebay Park’s Crispin Center Pine Room.
Carvers from many states will join the local carving group as they come together to showcase their creations. All types of carvings will be displayed with most offered for sale.
Each visitor will receive a free drawing ticket, and drawings will be held every hour. Winners must be present to win.
Many past exhibitors will return to display their pieces alongside new artisans.
Susan Dorsch of St. Clairsville will display her carvings of a birds and painted “rust and worn” style of carvings. Dorsch has shown these unique carvings at many national shows, including the second largest show in the country at Dayton, Ohio.
Wheeling will be represented by Jim Showalter. Club President Clark Adams of Strabane, Pa., will present a display of framed-deep relief carvings. Ray Thurston of Medina, Ohio, will return with his drift wood creations.
They join Pittsburgh’s Bill Baker and his collection of colorful Santas, and New York carvers Ken and Dot Kohl, who will display their dragons. Newcomers Phil Topa of Glade Spring, Va.; Ken Grigsby of Dellroy, Ohio, and Kathryn Overcash of Mineral, Va., will make their first trip to the show.
Chainsaw carver Jeff Hankey will display items inside, while local chainsaw carver Jeff Roscoe of Flushing, Ohio, will be carving on the outside lawn.
Second-year exhibitor Mike Allen of Bellevue, Ohio, will display of finely detailed carvings. Karl Ohly will bring an array of carvings in natural wood colors. Walt Thompson, Miranda Sykes, Kevin Patch, Walter Niedziela, Russell Owen and Charles Myers will be returning to take part.
Local members participating include Kelli Dague, Suzanne Mozena, Al Pierson, Keith Miller, Ann Swearingen, Duke Jordan and Joe Hodorowski.
Vendors will be selling wood suitable for carving, pre-made boxes, plates and cutout or roughout carving pieces.
Carving tools, patterns and pattern books will be available. Carving skill and tool-sharpening demonstrations will take place both days on the front lawn, weather permitting.
Food and drinks will be available from the Oglebay Park concession counter.
Carvers will be selling drawing tickets with a top prize of lodging from Sunday through Thursday night at a deluxe cabin in Oglebay Park and two second prizes of $100 and three third prizes of $50 Oglebay gift cards, good anywhere in Oglebay Park. The drawing will be held at the conclusion of the show Aug. 31, and the winners need not be present.
Also during the Labor Day weekend, the park will be hosting the Fort Henry Days colonial re-enactment Aug. 30 at Site One and a Wheeling Symphony performance 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at the amphitheater. Both events are free.
The Oglebay Woodcarvers Guild is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the art of wood carving through instruction, exhibitions and demonstrations.
The club meets Mondays and Thursdays for carving sessions at the Stifel Fine Arts Center on National Road.