While many of us will generously open our wallets on Thursday for Giving Hearts Day, a group of local wood carvers are reminding us that support comes in all shapes, sizes — heart-shaped surprises.
Members of Red River Valley Woodcarvers have been busy carving wood hearts for individuals and families staying at YWCA, an act of service intended to support and engage with other community members through art and creativity.
“We try to reach out to support the community in different ways throughout the year,” said group member and board secretary Patty Molm. “The hearts we’ve carved are really meant to be gestures of comfort to those staying at YWCA.”
Perfect timing ahead of Giving Hearts Day, too.
“It just feels good to recognize those in need,” Molm said.
Recently, the carvers also donated holiday-themed carvings to Touchmark By Harwood Groves senior living community and Heather’s House hospice center, both in Fargo.
‘Carved with intention’
The individual heart carvings are all the same shape, but each carver has taken creative liberty with their designs.
Some are simpler, like Molm’s, who chose to make her hearts into wooden worry stones people can carry in their pockets.
“You just rub your thumb on the imprint and it calms you down,” Molm said.
Others like next-level expert Allen Pearson adorned several of his hearts with intricate kolrosing, a Norwegian technique carvers use to create intricate basketweave patterns.
Jerome Miller, who has been a member of RRVWC since he retired in 2015, said the group can’t be beat for connection and personal growth. For his hearts, Miller used a woodburner to add wildlife designs.
“I’m so surprised that some of my stuff works out the way it does,” Jerome Miller said while sanding a piece of basswood into a heart. “And I ask myself how did I even do that?”
Miller said the heart project specifically is one way for him and others to bring a rewarding sense of accomplishment to a craft he enjoys doing.
“It comes down to patience, perseverance,” Miller said. “And dumb luck.”
No matter what heart a person receives, the sentiment is the same: make art and give back.
“Local nonprofit arts organizations like Red River Valley Woodcarvers are creating amazing connections in our community not only by being creative but also spreading that creativity wherever it’s welcome,” Tania Blanich, executive director of The Arts Partnership said. “Each heart is carved with the intention to spread love throughout the community.”
Connecting with Red River Valley Woodcarvers
Red River Valley Woodcarvers members meet weekly at American Legion in Moorhead where they help each other on individual creative projects, with many of the more experienced members on hand to help with questions about knives and wood grain.
“Mostly we carve together in a relaxed atmosphere,” Molm added, reflecting on the value of casually connecting with other creatives interested in the same medium. “There aren’t any official classes, although we sometimes will do a carve-along where we all carve the same project.”
The open-house approach to collective carving keeps things fluid and creative, according to the group. There are also casual evening sessions hosted at individual members’ homes.
The next club meeting is at 10:30 a.m. on March 7 at Moorhead American Legion where carver Wayne Hankel lead a carve-along on carving a wren from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’re always looking for more carvers,” Molm said. “As you can see, there’s a lot of gray hair in the room.”
Miller agreed.
“It’s a great hobby,” he said. “A tradition we want to keep alive.”
Learn more about Red River Valley Woodcarvers on their website.
