Ancient Art of Woodcarving Takes On a Modern Twist in Jefferson

The craft of woodcarving has been around nearly as long as humans have inhabited earth. Items from the practical (walking sticks, spears, tools) to the decorative (furniture, sculptures) have been crafted of wood.

The art of woodcarving is alive and well in Jefferson, in the form of the Jersey Hills Wood Carvers, a group that meets twice a month at the high school wood shop to hone its craft.

Nearly 20 members make up the group, and each has his or her own specialty, according to president Henry Hanzo, Jr.

“Some of us work on larger pieces, some do more fine crafting,” he said. “People in this group make everything from furniture to holiday pieces.”

While enjoyment is the group’s main focus, it also gives back to the community.

“Last year, we did a session with a Girl Scout group where we taught them to carve in soap,” Hanzo said. “This year, they are going to graduate to wood. It’s hard sometimes, because you can’t do a lot in just one session, but we may be able to have them back more than once.”

While some of the members sell their creations, they also look forward to opportunities to display them, and several of those are upcoming for the group. Demonstrations are coming at Ramsey Outdoor World stores, one in South Ramsey on Feb. 19 and the other in Succasunna on Feb. 26.

The group will also participate in the New Jersey Student Crafts Fair at Ledgewood Mall in Ledgewood, May 11-15.

“There is a competition at this fair, and we will be judging the wood carving portion,” Hanzo said.

The group also displays at the Sussex County Fair in August.