The Art of Carving

Te Ao Hou, December 1968, Page 54

The Art of Carving Since time and man began, the need to express oneself has taken many forms. Perhaps the foremost of these is the art of carving which is prominent in early civilization as a symbol of grief, joy, warning, hope and even death. Carving takes many long tedious hours to perfect and the ability to transform a piece of driftwood into a finely carved miniature comes through expert tuition and practice. The materials range from crude stone implements to the finest steel chisels, all chipping and gouging the ivory or plentiful woods selected for their beautiful colours, textures and hardness. Throughout the world carving has been and in many cases still is, the symbol of life. Take, for instance, primitive tribes of Africa who fear carved idols and pay homage and sacrifice, often human, from birth to death. Takuta Emery, Lower VI, Pahiatua