The Affiliated Wood Carvers is a non-profit corporation which promotes the fine art of wood carving through sponsorship of the International Woodcarvers Congress, a week-long event held during the third full week of June in Davenport, Iowa. Congress Week includes the annual competition and show, a series of related carving seminars, the Annual Banquet, and the Annual AWC Membership Meeting.
Participation in the International Woodcarvers Congress is open to anyone interested in woodcarving. Participants are required to be members of AWC, which costs$10.00 for an annual membership ($15.00 foreign.) AWC membership includes informational newsletters, discount admission to the exhibit area during Congress Week with your membership card, access to the seminars and competition, and a copy of the annual pictorial Show Report.
The Annual Competition
The International Woodcarvers Congress includes over 50 separate categories in the judging competition and is the longest running, most prestigious, competitively judged woodcarving show in existence. It features exhibits from all over the United States, Canada, and often some countries overseas. Cash awards and prizes have totaled over $17,000 yearly in past events.
Competition is open to all levels of carvers in any age category. Membership to AWC is necessary to compete in the show, except for carvers 18 or younger.
Judges for the 2002 Congress
The competition is
judged each year by three experienced individuals who are considered
experts in the woodcarving field. Judges are chosen by the Judges
Selection Committee. Following the competition, these judges hold
critique sessions to discuss their criteria used to select the
winners in each category.
The 2002 judges included Janet Denton Cordell from Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is flanked by Neil Z. Cox, Ontario, Canada, on the left and and John Burke, Ithaca, Nebraska on the right.
The 2003 Congress will be held June 14 - 22, 2003. For more information, visit the AWC web site at http://awcltd.org/
The 2002 Competition Winners Gallery: Click HERE