Hand any one of the Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Association’s members a sharp knife, a hunk of wood and they’ll soon turn it into a thing of beauty.

For proof, visit the Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Association’s 22^nd annual Artistry in Wood Show Mar. 19-20 at the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick.

Some members of the Wood Carvers Association meet at the Kennewick Senior Center to work on projects for the show. They’re all longtime carvers and enjoy sharing their expertise at twice weekly classes held at the Senior Center.

[blockquote quote="People think that wood carving is something only men do, but there are 17 women in our Wood Carvers Association and what they turn out is truly, truly beautiful." source="Jerry Dilley, Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Association" align="right" max_width="300px"]

“Everyone is welcome to attend the classes — you don’t have to be a member of the association. Though we’d welcome some new members,” said Vi Hiltwein of Kennewick.

The Senior Center classes are 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and the cost is 75 cents per person; and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays, when the cost is $1.

“There’s no need to register or even have your own tools. We’ll always have some tools to lend and an extra piece of wood,” said Jerry Dilley of Kennewick.

Dilley said people are always surprised how many wood carvers are women.

“People think that wood carving is something only men do, but there are 17 women in our Wood Carvers Association and what they turn out is truly, truly beautiful,” said Dilley.

Hiltwein’s been carving for nearly 25 years, having taken up the art at the urging of her sister, Ellen Berg, also of Kennewick.

“After Ellen retired from the military, she moved here and began taking wood carving classes at a craft store that used to be in Kennewick,” said Hiltwein.

Soon they were both hooked. Berg roughed out the shapes on the band saw while Hiltwein did the finish carving.

However, Berg has developed respiratory problems and can’t tolerate the wood dust anymore.

“But we still share ideas and opinions on how something is turning out,” Hiltwein joked.

Hiltwein said over the years she’s gone through a lot of wood, but always has an eye out for a likely piece and for project ideas.

“There’s always the new, biggest thing yet to come. I like doing different things. It frustrates me to duplicate something,” she said.

Barbara Pendecost of Kennewick is another longtime carver who attends the sessions at the Senior Center. She specializes in chip carving, creating designs by chiseling out small chunks of wood with a sharp knife.

Pendecost began carving years ago when her daughter, Barbara, gave her a “weird knife”. The Pendecosts were living in Everett where her husband had a job.

“I discovered the senior center there had carving classes, so I joined and found I really enjoyed it. I always have two or three projects going. Sometimes I just have to put one down and let it rest a bit,” Pendecost said.

Judith Dilley likened it to writer’s block.

“When you come back to the first one you see things differently,” she said.

She and her husband haven’t been carving as long as Hiltwein and Pendecost, but are just as accomplished in their specialty, Northwest Native American-inspired masks. Judith Dilley was an art teacher for 20 years but had not done subtractive art, where you begin with a larger piece of material and cut away parts to reveal the form you want.

“Rather I worked in clay where you add more material to create your sculpture,” said Judith Dilley.

Unlike some carvers who work with cured woods, the Dilleys use green woods, mainly cedar and alder. To rough shape a project the couple use an adz, a small axe. Then fine tune their carving with smaller hand tools and embellish them with paint.

Hiltwein, Pendecost and the Dilleys are just four of the more than 75 wood carvers who will be exhibiting their work, demonstrating their craft and selling selected carved items during the 22^nd annual Artistry in Wood show March 19-20.

“The show draws carvers from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana,” said Jerry Dilley, show chairman. “There will be about 200 carvings displayed, many for sale, as will carvings knives, books and several types of wood to buy.”

On Sunday, at 2:30 p.m., there will be a raffle of more than 100 items, he said.

The Artistry in Wood show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mar. 19 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mar. 20 at the Tri-Tech Skills Center, 5929 W. Metaline Ave., Kennewick. Admission is $3 for those 12 and older.

For more information on the Association or the show find them on Facebook or go to Tri-Citieswoodcarvingclub.blogspot.com or call Jerry Dilley at 509-619-0811.