Main Sections

Sharing A Vision With Wood

photo by Mike Cameron Wood carving by Chuck Herrmann.

photo by Mike Cameron Root Fence” Henry Sheldon Museum Collection.

photo by Mike Cameron Indexed bark display.

Tuesday May 3, 2016

By Mike Cameron

Chuck Herrmann commands a special gift for teaching.  We all can learn from him because he makes it comfortable for each of us to understand his message.  His special conduit to others is Vermont wood.  To be more precise, Chuck has created bird carvings from 40 different wood species found right here in the Champlain Valley.   
    The Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury is featuring “Out of the Forest Woodcarvings by Chuck Hermann”.  His work will be on view through May 21st 2016.  The exhibit is part of Vermont Arts 2016 a project of the Vermont Arts Council. You will also have an opportunity to meet and listen to Chuck discuss his work on Wednesday May 18th at noon.
    This wood historian, educator and self-taught artist discovered an abiding love for the Vermont woods when he moved here early in the 1970s.  He befriended local farm families and began to learn more about them and their land.  New friends also included  local mill owners, loggers, and  environmentalists.  Chuck was able to begin collating a substantial body of knowledge.  How we Vermonters are connected to our forests can reveal much about who we are, where we have been and where we are going.
    In a brief conversation with The Valley Voice last week Chuck explained what a “root-fence” bird carving was….  First a quick refresher on what a root fence is; or more to the point, what it was, in Addison County from many days gone bye.  A tree is felled by man or nature.  A stump remains and needs to be pulled from the ground for one reason or other.  Now we see the roots.  At one time farmers made fences from this left over wood.  On many farms, roots weren't discarded as waste wood.  A fence was made and perhaps helped to pasture sheep or other livestock.
    Chuck Herrmann admired the various shapes and forms that were created by these roots and as they aged after being pulled from the ground.  He could see birds in the tangled tendrils and began to use a latent skill, adding a helping human hand to the hand of nature.  
    That combination has produced stunningly delicate, graceful and enduring “root-fence” birds.  For example a combination of Black Locust, Butternut and Maple under Chuck's steady hands and tools have produced a flowing form that could easy be interpenetrated as a fowl taking flight.  All this from “root-fence,” that at one time enclosed pasture-land at New Haven Junction near the intersection of Routes 7 and 17.
    Chuck remains a valuable resource to The Sheldon Museum. Middlebury College Museum Library, Shelburne Farms and Billings Farm, graciously offering his unique expertise and comprehensive knowledge of Vermont wood.  For more information on Chuck Herrmanns exhibit please visit henrysheldonmuseum.org/exhibits.  Better yet, visit the museum and see for yourself.

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives