"Is there really an Oven Bird? " Richard Davis of Shawnee asked his woodcarving instructor at a seminar in Michigan several years ago. He was informed that there was. This unusually named bird was one of several models offered to students at the seminar.

The OVEN BIRD that Richard carved was his first realist piece. Visitors to the Santa Fe Depot Museum in October voted it First Place for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD for Woodcarving. Richard said that painting the bird was more difficult than the carving since he had never painted anything before "except a barn with a broom".

Most of the carving Richard does now is of realistic birds, flowers and raptors.

Richard also won second place for his COWBOY COURTING. He said that he had carved it "on a whim" and it sat around for a year before he got around to carving the hat and painting it. The silk flowers in the cowboy's hand were from his wife's craft supplies.

Richard currently offers a woodcarving class at the Municipal Auditorium the first Thursday of each month in the morning. There is no charge for the class and observers are most welcome. Students must purchase their own materials and tools.

As to other interests, Richard says the main thing he reads in the newspaper anymore is the obits to find out if he's in there.

First Place People's Choice Award in the Wood Turning category was a CHERRY WOOD AND MOHOGANY VASE by Harold Daugherty of Shawnee. The cherry wood in this vase has an interesting story.

In 1952 Russell "Mutt" Rollins worked for a pipeline company in Missouri. While clearing the right of way in Oswatmie, Kansas he noticed a beautiful cherry tree marked for demolition. Mutt made arrangements for the tree, which was three feet in diameter, to be cut, milled into planks, and transported to Mutt's home in Missouri.

Mutt's job required that he move frequently and every time he moved, the cherry planks were moved with him. Over the years he used the cherry wood planks to create various household items and fine furniture for his home. Even a pair of pistol grips was made from the rich, dark red wood.

After more than 50 years of lovingly caring for this special cherry wood and moving it from place to place, Mutt passed away. His son, Joe Rollins of Shawnee helped his mother make arrangements for selling their home. He wasn't quit certain what to do with the cherry wood, but thought the remaining planks from that grand old tree should go to someone who would appreciate its beauty.

Joe and Harold Daugherty have been friends and deacons at the same church for over twenty years. Joe had seen some of the woodturnings that Harold had done and offered the wood to him. Harold added mahogany wood to the wood from that Kansas cherry tree that Mutt loved to create this beautiful vase.

Harold has been turning wood for several years and has won other awards for his projects. One of his more unusual projects is a "squirrel hole" that was cut from a local oak tree and turned by putting sponge on the face plate with a rag on the other end of the hole and slowly turning it with finely sharpened tools.

Doyle Stearman, owner of Doyle's Daylight Donuts, won second place with his turning of a CEDAR GOBLET.

Most carvers and turners are quick to explain that there is a vast difference in their work. Carving is done mostly with small hand tools and turning is done on a machine called a lathe. A lot of turners first laminate several different color woods together and then turn their piece to give it a unique look. Skill in choosing woods to combine and laminate makes a big difference in the look of the finished piece.

The Woodcarvers/Wood Turners Show and Festival is an annual event at the Santa Fe Depot Museum in Shawnee.

More About Woodcarver Richard Davis

Accumulating the most votes for visitors' favorite woodcarving was OVEN BIRD
by Richard Davis of Shawnee. Richard carved the OVEN BIRD at a carving seminar in Michigan. It was his first realist piece. The instructor at the seminar offered several choices of models for students to carve and the Oven Bird was one of the choices.

"Is there really an Oven Bird, " Richard asked her and was informed that there was. After researching the strangely named bird, Richard found the habitat of the Oven Bird was Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Richard said painting the bird was more difficult than the carving since he had never painted anything before "except a barn with a broom."

Most of the carving Richard does now is of realistic birds, flowers and raptors.

Richard also won second place for his COWBOY COURTING. He said that he had carved it just on a whim and it sat around for a year before he got around to carving the hat in its hand and painting it. The silk flowers in the cowboy's other hand were from his wife's craft supplies.

When asked if Richard's wife would think that the Cowboy Courting referred to their courtship. Richard replied, "Not at all. I was a biker when she met me." Richard said that he met his wife in a restaurant on north Harrison. He was wearing a jacket with a picture of a skull with a piston rod through it. He noticed someone pulling on his jacket, which made him mad. It was this girl begging him for a ride.

He said he took her from Wallace to the highway but there was nothing out there at the time except bars, a cemetery, and the drive-in theater. By the time she got back she was nearly frozen.

She often says that her mother fell in love with Richard before she did. They've been married now over 50 years.