David Osterlund, Treasurer of the Santa Clara Valley Carvers, was approached by representatives from the San Jose Unified School District to orchestrate an engaging carving demonstration at the Los Alamitos Elementary School, as part of their Art Week festivities. Alan Huntzinger, Roman Chernikov, and Jordan Makower eagerly volunteered to lend their expertise.
From 4 PM to 8 PM on 5/7/2019, children from kindergarten to fifth grade, alongside their parents, enthusiastically participated in our showcase. We exhibited a variety of finished pieces, both our own creations and those crafted by fellow club members, while providing detailed explanations of the techniques behind our wooden ornaments and figurines. To ensure safety, Dave ingeniously crafted specialized wooden tools from dowels, allowing even the smallest hands to fashion turtles, butterflies, and other shapes from bars of soap. Alan and Dave led demonstrations on soap carving, assisting children in sculpting animals and flowers.
Roman showcased intricately chip-carved ornaments and offered live demonstrations, while Jordan facilitated block printing sessions, enabling children to create prints of animals and a baseball scene using his meticulously carved linoleum blocks. Our presentations captivated hundreds of attendees, who eagerly participated and engaged with our activities.
The children and parents alike were an absolute joy to work with. Their courteous manners, consistently saying “Please” and “Thank you,” and their patience while awaiting their turn, were truly commendable. Whether from large families or small, individuals or groups, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time working with us, diligently honing their skills under our guidance. Remarkably, many children expressed genuine admiration for the artwork on display, offering heartfelt compliments on its beauty — a delightful observation for us all.
The supportive and amiable staff, particularly the custodial team, played a vital role in ensuring the success of the event. Their assistance and encouragement, even in the cleanup process, were greatly appreciated. Being part of such a remarkable event was truly gratifying, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who provided the invaluable support behind the scenes, making this program and the school a shining example of educational excellence.
Pictures by Roman Chernikov.
