Theresa Cantu
Mediums commonly associated with “art” are pain, pencil, and paper. Add a block of wood and a pocket knife and you have whittling! Whittling goes back to biblical times and was later made popular by American Indian tribes. It was first used for making tools and archiving information. Next came totem poles and architecture. As it became a common trade among tribes, it began for more expressive purposes such as statues and personal enlightenment. Statuettes of enemies and supposed monsters were also whittled and burned in an expression of distaste for the represented figure. Whittling today falls under the category of “folk art”. Carvings are usually whimsical and strange, but expressive, nonetheless. Areas where whittling is commonly taught and practiced are country areas, such as West Virginia and Texas.
There are few places today where an individual may go to learn how to whittle, such as high school wood shop classes and scouting groups. Creations can be displayed in local competitions and festivals, such as the Lorain County Fair. All you need is a pocket knife and a decent block of wood!
