GOW

You are invited to GOW 2006 and bring a friend.

What is GOW 2006?  A Gathering of Woodcarvers where there are over 35 seminars for all levels of carving.

 Where is it going to be? At The Carving Shop (address and phone number below), with classes under a Big Top tent.

 When is it going to be? Campers come in on Monday, September 18, classes begin on the 19th, and go through Friday, the 22nd.  Campers leave on Saturday the 23^rd.

 When’s it going to start? We’ll begin about 6 PM on Monday with a Social (Margarita Seminar), where there will be snacks and drinks, while the instructors introduce themselves and give information about their seminars.

Tell us more about the Seminars. There will be about 15 instructors teaching about 35 seminars on woodcarving (tentative schedule listed below). Many of these seminars are directed toward the beginner carver. They will include carving birds, decoys, relief, in-the-round, busts, bark carving, caricature carving, sharpening and much more. The seminars begin at 9 AM to 5 PM with an hour off for lunch, Tuesday and through Friday. Some seminars are half-day ($5 plus material), some full day ($10 plus material) and some are more than one day. All payment for seminars go to the instructors to help cover expenses.

Do I need to sign up for the seminars? The students can ask the instructor at the beginning of the seminar if they have any room left, or you may call Bob Mau (basswood@aol.com ) (630-556-4253) to reserve a space.

Are there camping spots available on site?  Yes, grass sites, for a cost of $10 per night ($5 for instructors). There is electricity and some water hook-ups available. Please reserve your site with Sandie Roosa (outdoor1@ulster.net ).  The on-site camping is full.  Sandie will assist in finding camping for the nearest campsite about a mile away.

 Is there a motel near by? Yes, there is a Super 8 Motel in Yorkville (630-553-1634) about 10 miles from the GOW. Amerihost Inn (815) 895-4979 (about 22 miles) in Sycamore Illinois.

What about meals? Breakfast and lunch you are on your own. Monday evening we have margaritas and spoon tacos. There is a Chili Dump on Tuesday night (bring some chili and dump it into a big pot) or $2 per person. Wednesday night is potluck. If you don’t bring a plate to pass you can eat for $2 per person. Thursday night is on your own, with a pizza place a few doors down, or restaurants in the area. Friday night is hot dogs and chips around the campfire with music and song.

What evening activities are there? Tuesday evening Ol’ Don Burgdorf is doing a talk "Creating a Likeness of Someone". Wednesday evening is the ‘Blanket Trade’ where you can swap your unused tools and supplies. Thursday evening is a power-carving demo with a tool sale. Friday evening we sit around the campfire singing and listening to music and stories. There is a whittling contest, doing cane segments, where the canes will be raffled off to help cover GOW expenses. You can pick up the blanks beginning Monday, and must have them finished and back in Thursday evening at 9 PM..

 Ornament exchange. Bring your carved, painted or burned ornament for the ornament exchange.

How should I dress?  Middle September, it is still warm during the day. However, it gets cool at night, so a sweater or jacket is recommended.

Instructions currently scheduled are:  (Tentative schedule)

Peter Benson- relief carving (3, 1 day classes Wed., Thurs. & Fri.)        

Ol’ Don Burgdorf- Caricature (3,1 day classes, Tues., Wed. & Fri.)       

Jim Byrne miniature (3, 1 day classes, Wed.-Celtic knot spoon, Thurs.-sugar mold and Fri.- hiking stick)

Floyd Rhadigan- (3, 1 day classes, Tues., Wed. and  Thurs. Caricature carving)

Joe Dillett- (1/2 days Tues. morning, Wed. morning & Thurs. morning sharpening,  / Fri.1/2 day morning mentoring)                                      

Gordon Sorenson- (1, 2 day class  Tues./Wed. fish) This is a power carving class.

Tony Erikson- (4, 1 day classes  Tues., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. bark carving)

John Susan-(1, full day Tues. Santa ornament.)

Mike Harmon- (1, full day Fri. female torso)                                     

Chris Howard- (3, 1 day classes, Tues., Wed., and Fri., busts of Indians and mountain men)

Gene Westerberg-(2, 1 day classes, Tues. and Thurs. carving smoothie bird) This is a power carving class.

Mel Johnson – (4 days of teaching classes, are 1/2 day or full day, Tues. thru Fri., an assortment of different projects)

Bonnie Graser- (Tues. and Thurs., chip carving letters, this is a chip carving class.)  This is a one day class.  The Thursday class is full.

Dave Kublank-(2, 1 day classes, Tues. and Thurs., Flat Plan carving and 1 painting seminar on Fri.)

Bob Mau- (1, full day Fri., and Thurs. facial features, these are two classes, 1 day each.)  The Friday class is full.

Mike Huber will be teaching 2 1/2 day class on hands, these classes are Wed. and Thurs. afternoon sessions.

Address and Phone No.:
645 E. LaSalle Street, Suite 3,
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815)498-9290,
(815)498-9249 Fax

Your GOW hosts are: Joe and Sharon Dillett (food and facilities), Sandie Roosa (registration, camping and activities) and Bob Mau.(Seminar instructors and scheduling).