As I was walking my dog this week he came back with the perfect piece of wood for my next spoon. Im only 2 weeks into carving and already no longer see trees the same. This made me think about the ethics of harvesting even dead sticks from the forest. That one stick is the home of a possible thousand insects in its future. When I was doing my College Diploma at Algonquin College we used “Leave No Trace” principals. The carving I have done so far has been with firewood bought from a grocery store. I decided for now this is the only wood I will carve. This made me think of acknowledging the land rights of Indigenous people all across Canada.
I decided to watch a video with an indigenous perspective on wood carving. I found a Coast Salish master carver Randy Goldsmith who talks about his journey with wood carving in an exclusive interview. His work is incredible to look at. What stood out for me was the connection to ancestral knowledge and Goldsmith’s passion to pass on skill to others. Goldsmith has developed his own style but also uses techniques he learned from his father and culture. Bringing this into my practice I think I have more respect for the patience it takes to master this craft. Not only in each stroke but also sitting listening to learn more about the skill.
March 1, 2021 at 9:37 pm
The fact that your dog brought you a well-suited piece of wood for you to carve a spoon is so heartwarming. He must understand that you are on this carving journey. It’s interesting that you are facing a moral dilemma in removing even sticks from the forest because you recognize that leaving it would allow for a richer ecosystem. I remember in an ecology class learning about how energy is passed and absorbed, and how when something dies it allows for other things to live because of the nature of energy, and the limited amount of it. I totally understand this. I think you are approaching it with the right mindset and an adequate amount of respect. I can’t wait to see what you create.