In my pursuit of the important aspects of art in our lives, I often seek less common roads to find stories and subject matter that offers a new perspective on an art form that may not be discussed or explored very often. In my June article about Rick Holcomb, the former Danville resident who, through a relatively kindly twist of fate, was fortunate to have joined forces with Cathy Riggs in her delightful “I’ve Been Framed” frame shop in Martinez. Subsequently, Rick has become a picture framing craftsman who demonstrates a unique vision in framing customers’ art. While in the shop, I was inadvertently introduced to Jim Marieiro, a master wood carver, who just happened to be conducting a wood carving class in the back room of the frame shop on that particular day.
I had never really thought of wood carving as an art form previously, nor had I ever been to an exhibit of this type of art. Rick introduced me to this gentleman as “both a state and national champion wood carver for many years.” I was surprised to see such exquisite examples in that classroom of birds and fish carvings, I was taken aback.
I recently followed up on my previously piqued interest and requested an interview with Jim Marieiro. When we spoke, he told me that he did his first wood carvings primarily of decoys that he could use in his hunting adventures when he was between 15 to 16 years of age. He continued carving and also got into taxidermy. Before long, he became so good at this art that friends began asking him to do their taxidermy and eventually he became the founder of the California Association of Taxidermists. Taxidermists, especially some of the best in the world, also compete in state, national, and world competitions, and at state shows, and the top taxidermists in the world conduct seminars as well. Originally, the California State association show and meeting was held annually in Redding California.
Jim retired from taxidermy 12 years ago as his love of wood carving had grown into such a fine art that he was in great demand as a teacher of wood carving and was capable of generating considerable income from it as well. Jim said, “Some of the miniatures go from $250 each to upwards of $5,000 for the larger items, such as one Eagle I sold.” One of his duck carvings replicating a Hooded Merganser (which is found locally in the Walnut and Pacheco creeks) has become a truly beautiful specimen of his work.
He dutifully studies each of the fish, ducks, birds and other animals that he carves so that he can be completely accurate in his presentation of these subjects. He can even tell you that the Hooded Merganser only eats fish and/or crawdads.
Jim explained that a simple carving takes about two to three weeks to complete. Of course, he is very experienced and works at a professional level. “And that’s not steady, continuous working; sometimes (it’s) only two or three days a week,” he says.
The Pacific Flyway Decoy Association is the big show in the Western United States, held annually in Sacramento, every July. “Unfortunately,” says Mr. Marieiro, “the PFD Association doesn’t advertise like it used to.” He used to find used posters on just about every telephone pole in Martinez informing the public about the upcoming gathering, but today their marketing has primarily shifted to the Internet.
The Association’s convention is still attended by thousands of people, but is nowhere near the “shoulder to shoulder” crowds that they used to have. It is still a terrific show but not as many people are made aware of it. Each year the show brings competitors all the way from New York, Texas, and Idaho. In addition, the show includes seminars and thousands of exhibits during the three-day event.
There is another group called the Capital Woodcarvers in Sacramento that meets in May of each year, and this group carves everything you could imagine—from fancy rocking chairs to gourds, and from human figures to antique-style artifacts.
Locally, Jim says his students range from beginners and intermediate woodcarvers, up to some of the finest experts in the country. This community of artists has become an extended family; a wonderful group helping each other to learn this art. He says that the kind of competitions that his class, the California’s Contra Costa County Critter Club, like to do, is primarily to carve fish and birds. “We have a lot of kids in our club, especially on our Thursday night classes, and some of these kids range from real youngsters to older kids, clearly into their twenties,” he said. “I do this because I love to teach kids this art and I want to get this art more out there, and these kids especially love carving these birds and fish,” he added.
While there is a ten dollar per class fee for each student to pay for the use of the studio space, Marieiro provides this instruction to all without any remuneration going to himself, and he has even worked out a deal with the frame shop owner, Cathy Riggs, so that all students 18 years of age or under are absolutely free!
When I attended one of the Thursday evening classes, I met adult student, Alex Kobylik, who originally investigated the class to find an educational art program that his two boys, Jonas and Alan could enjoy after the Martinez “Art Euphoria” program came to an end. The instructor of that program referred the Kobylik family to Jim Marieiro’s Thursday night program. Alex says that his boys fell in love with the program, not only because they love the projects that they were working on but primarily because instructor Marieiro became like a second grandfather to them.
This family had emigrated from Europe and all their extended family was still there. Alex says that Mr. Marieiro treated them like family and demonstrated such great love of this art that the boys took it to heart. The proof may lie in the fact that within two to three years both boys have become national award winners. It is also noteworthy that when Alex brought his children to become involved in this art class, he had no intention to become a student himself, but he discovered that he really enjoyed it while working with his boys in this activity. Further he says, “it has brought his entire family even closer together.”
I also attended one of the Wednesday afternoon classes where I met Mr. EB Mussa, who in the span of three years, has become a national champion and award winner. He discovered this class quite accidentally while he was on his way to have lunch at a restaurant across the street from the frame shop. He noticed some beautiful carved fish and birds in the window and went inside to inquire as to who created them. He was invited by shop owner Cathy Riggs to come back and attend one of the workshops for free just to get acquainted. Now after three years, he’s knee-deep in artwork.
Ngam Worley attended a December Wednesday afternoon class and quickly decided that she too will be joining the 2019 class. Even Jim Marieiro’s grandson, Dominic Pruett, has been a national champion three years in a row and I photographed one of his exquisite blue ribbon, award-winning fish carvings.
Hopefully, after you see this article and the beauty that can be accomplished through these classes and the love that this art form has generated in these talented carvers, you won’t simply “eat your heart out,” but you will come down to the “I’ve Been Framed” frame shop and art studio at 411 Ferry Street (at the corner of Marina Vista Avenue) in Martinez, and drop in on one of these classes and maybe, eventually, “Carve Your Art Out” too. It’s a great group of people in a very supportive atmosphere. In addition, this is a great little frame shop. If you call Cathy Riggs or Rick Holcomb at (925) 228-7353 and ask either of them about these classes, they will gladly explain what they’re about, when they happen, and will invite you to their frame shop to get acquainted. And Jim’s beautiful work is on display and for sale in the shop as well, so you can start your own collection of these exquisite art pieces!
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