Each year at the Dayton Carvers Guild’s Artistry in Wood someone is presented with the “Ron Ryan Award” in memory of Ron Ryan who dedicated himself to the advancement of wood carving in a self giving manner.  It was my humbling honor to be the 2008 recipient of the Ron Ryan Award.

The plaque bears five carved walnut wooden geese that were the signature carvings of Ron Ryan given as gifts to children.  The plaque has engraved the following words:

“Awarded to Don Mertz who exemplifies the ideals of giving of oneself, expressing goodwill, and exerting extra effort needed to promote woodcarving throughout the carving world.  Artistry in Wood – 2008”

Read more about the “Ron Ryan Award” by going to www.daytoncarvers.com and click on “Artistry in Wood” and then click on “Ron Ryan Award” to read about the award and past recipients.  It is a humbling honor for which I  gratefully thank the Dayton Carvers Guild for such an honor and acknowledge that woodcarving is an experience engendering friendships carved upon one’s heart.

Don Worley presents Ron Ryan Award to Don Mertz.

“Wood carving is more the journey than the destination,” is a saying that describes the experience of carving.  The fun part of the journey is the actual carving process while the destination is what happens to the carving after it is completed.  One destination is to enter carvings into competition at wood carving shows to receive the evaluation of the judges. Read the rest of this entry »

The WOOD BEE CARVER calls his carving room “CARVING CENTRAL” since it is the center of carving activity.  When my wife and I build our home for retirement in 2006 we designed it as an “old geezer’s” house with a one floor plan with wide open spaces and a carving room inside the house.

The carving room is 18 feet by 19 feet and is located on the north west corner of the house with plenty of natural light.  It is entered by way of the great room and kitchen area  and has a door that opens into the attached garage.  There is a “dirty” carving area in the garage for hand sawing blocks of wood and for sharpening carving tools.  The carving room is the center of carving activity for hand powered carving.

The photos above give a visual tour into “CARVING CENTRAL” showing a hand made carving bench made in 1976, three different carving holding devices,  many tool cabinets and boxes with multiple drawers, comfortable chairs and display shelves.  Welcome to “CARVING CENTRAL” – the center of carving activity.

These three photos show carvings displayed in the carving room.  Carvings are hanging on the wall behind a  former library card catalog cabinet which have many Santa carvings on display on its top.

The two other photos show carvings on display in two sections of a cabinet with shelves.  The bottom of the cabinet contain wood carving books and magazines.

Most of the carvings on display were carved by the WOOD BEE CARVER along with several others carved by other carvers that have been collected over the years of friendship within the carving family.