Creative Woodworks & crafts 2000-01, страница 43

PHIL ODDEN AND ELSE BIGTON, MASTERS OF NORWEGIAN CARVING

by Ivan Whillock

It seems only natural that Phil Odden and Else Bigton, partners in life as well as business, would live and work in the woods of northwestern Wisconsin. In my visit there I was treated not only to the natural beauty of the area, but to the splendid work of two talented artists as well.

Phil's grandfather emigrated to the rural area known as Timberland from the Gudbrandsdalen region of Norway in the early years of this century. In 1977 Phil returned to Norway to attend carving school at the famous Hjerleid school. There, he met Else Bigton, also a student at the school, who was studying cabinet making and wood carving. Together, they returned to Phil's home in Wisconsin to live and work at producing traditional Norwegian carving and furniture. The beautiful Timeberland not only inspires their creativity but supplies them with the fine northern basswood that is coveted by carvers throughout the United States.

Soon, Phil and Else had built a splendid reputation.

They specialized in carving the curls and scrolls of the acanthus leaf motif as well as the intertwining dragons, serpents, and leafage of the Dragon Style carving which is used on the ornate Medieval Stave Churches in Norway. Incorporating these styles of ornamentation, Phil and Else build and decorate a wide variety of objects. Their most popular commissions are one of a kind kubbestols (log chairs), ale bowls, mantle pieces, ornate mirror frames, and carved cabinets. Phil also enjoys illustrating Norwegian fairy tales and traditional romantic mountain scenes in relief carving, which are usually painted.

A few of the many places their work can be scene are the Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, the Elevehjem Museum in Madison, Wisconsin, and in various churches in the Midwest. They also have carvings in the Norwegian Pavilion at Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida.

Phil says he gets his inspiration from the land and natural settings, as well as a myriad of outdoor activities. He cites "cross country skiing, hiking, fishing for wild trout with hand-tied flies, following athletic English Setters over the rolling prairies, and baiting hooks for son Ole with garden worms in pursuit of feisty sunfish while talking about big muskies," as just a few of his favorite things. Else, on the other hand, gets inspiration from her family life and from her roots as a native Norwegian living in America. She researches the techniques and styles of earlier cabinet makers and carvers, incorporating their influence into her modern works.

Their first book, Treskaererkunsten, The Art of Wood Carving, was published in October, 1995 in Norwegian by University Press of Oslo, Norway. It may soon be translated into English. Recently, they have completed the first wood carving textbook for the Norwegian school system.

If you are interested in attending one of Phil and Else's classes, purchasing one of their books or videos, or receiving information on the basswood that grows in their back yard, contact Norsk Wood Works, Ltd., 20377 County Road H, Barronett, Wl 54813.

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