More than 1,300 carving fans visited the Florida Winter National Wood Art Expo & Competition on January 9 and 10, 2016. The crowd packed the beautiful waterfront convention center to check out hundreds of carvings, as well as to purchase carving supplies and enjoy the fun of a raffle and a silent auction.
About 30 artists, clubs, and vendors exhibited, including Cherry Tree Woodworking/Christian Hummul Wood Carving Supply, Hillcrest Carving, Cedar Bird Shoppe, Advantage Lumber, Jim O’Dea, and John Dunkle. In addition to carvers, wood turners, scrollers, pyrographers, and gourd artists shared their work, and Woodcarving Illustrated’s editor, Mindy Kinsey, was on hand giving away magazines and answering questions.
Josh Guge of the Guge Institute of Wildlife Art in Elgin, Ill., was the lead judge for the show’s competition. More than 100 artists entered, and more than $1,000 in prize money was awarded. Among the winners were Rita Nixon-Brunner of Port Charlotte, Fl., Xavier Colon of Oracovis, P.R., Ralph Frenzilli of Sun City Center, Fl., and Chad Turner of Winter Springs, Fl.
In addition, four artists taught mini-classes during the show: Rudy Lopez (turning); Norbert Bacon (flowers); Bud Evans (bird talons and toes); and Jim Poort (hollow spiral).
Held in a beautiful waterfront convention center in Punta Gorda, the Florida Winter National is hosted by the Southwest Florida Woodcarvers.
For more information, visit the show’s website, http://flwoodartexpo.com/.