[mikeGinSC]

I have a client who does Bronze castings. There's nothing easy about them. I believe he does them in Clay, then has them bronzed. I'm not sure how the process works. One of his works now resides in the Supreme Court building in Wash. D.C. It is a bust of Sandra Day O' Connor.

As a beginning carver I can say that both methods are just as hard to accomplish. Just as one slip of the knife or gouge can ruin a carving, the same holds true with a power tool. One slip and the carving becomes firewood.

Mike G. in SC

[chuckbolton]

even if we use power tools-- each piece is different than the last in some way-its not a duplicate-- so to me its original and hand done-- we need to realize and accept that there are different forms of artwork and we each have our preferences. tho regarding lynn's post -- i too would be upset to show under a judge who categorically discounted a particular type of carving or character. but at the same time-- we are asking his opinion on that day-- i will go with his judgement-- if i ask for a critque and get one that is one sided or judgemental-- i wont show under him again. all that i have shown under have been gracious with constructive ideas.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

When we setdown to our Thanksgiving dinner I'm sure there are those who prefer to carve up the bird the old fasion way while others might prefer to use a powered method. No matter which way the fowl is sliced once it's on the plate it still tastes like Turkey and how it was cut is an issue that is quickly forgotten in the enjoyment of a good meal and the fellowship being exchanged around the dinner table. That pretty well sums up the issue to for me.

As for a judges's opinions and bias' they are perfectly fine with me also. However, if they become so opinionated that they exclude or discount certain carvings or methods then that's another story completely. Organizers of carving shows owe it to those carvers who pay their money to attend and participate in the shows various activities that all, repeat ALL carvers are treated equally and that the playing field is a level one. To employ a judge who is known to have certain opinions toward certain types of carvings and not inform those who plan on participating is certainly not ethical in my book. If, having not been informed I found out after a competition that such a judge was employing such methods my respect for that judge and the organization behind that show would quickly evaporate.

[RonB]

I agree with Lynn 100%, I have a real problem with Judges interjecting their Bias into the job they are there to do. Some might be just human nature, but a good number leave the house that morning with a mind set reflecting that bias. The definition of a Judge should be someone who looks at all the facts and makes an impartial decision.

[torpidhummer]

Great and interesting thread, I use chisles,knives etc and 3 different power tools, now I'm trying to learn how to use an airbrush on some of my carving because my trained monkey went off and died now I have do everything by . Just what Piccaso would have done with an airbrush, can I still call it hand carved? Just like Whitcree mentioned, I also talked to an elder when I worked on the "Res", he was using a fairly new John Deer tractor in his strawberry field, I said hey Joseph your sign out in front said, All strawberriers,planted and picked by hand. He answered my white customers still think us Indians are are the only ones in the state still do everything by hand. Joseph was about 70 years old and had a good sense of humor, I replied to him, that's cheating isn't it? As he drove the tractor away he hollered " hell no I'm driving this tractor by hand and feet anin't I".
We all have choices in how to carve a piece of wood that resembles a certain object the best and easiest way we can and by the way I use a coping machine to enlarge some of my patterns, is that cheating? he-he-he-he.
Oscar