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CCA 2004 National Caricature Carving Competition

Fall in southern Appalachia signals the onset of changing colors in the Smoky Mountains, the Fall Festival and the National Caricature Carving Competition at the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, TN. The competition is co-sponsored by The Caricature Carvers of America (CCA) and Dollywood. In the 2004 edition a total of 136 carvings were entered in 16 categories. CCA judges selected first through fifth place winners in each category, along with Best-of-Show and four runners up. First and second place winners in each division were awarded $100 and $50, respectively.

The Best-of-Show trophy and $500 cash award went to Andy Capps of Twin Falls, ID for Fish Story, an outstanding, one-piece carving of two fishermen carrying the catch of the day on their shoulders. At this point I must interject a personal story. When the judging was completed and we learned that Andy had done the top carving in the competition, I was stunned. I have known Andy for over ten years. I believe he was 13 when I first met him at the Idaho Carvers Guild show in Boise. He may be in his mid 20's now, but he is still a kid to me. My first inclination that Andy was coming on strong as a carver was when I lost a whittling contest to him a couple of years ago. Andy also won the CCA Merit award at Dollywood. Congratulations Andy.

Second Best-of-Show ($400) went to P.J. Driscoll of Omaha, NE for For sale: Baby Beefallo. P.J.s carving featured a male buffalo and a Holstein cow in a corral with two offspring that were obviously half buffalo and half bovine. The four animals are under the watchful eye of a nearby cowboy. P.J.'s carving was also popular with our show attendees as they voted it People's Choice ($100).

Third Best-of-Show ($300), Junior, and Fourth Best of Show ($200), Pearl were claimed by Gary Falin of Alcoa, TN. Gary won Best-of-Show last year. Not to worry though for all of you that are planning to enter next year - Gary is the newest member of CCA so he will not be eligible to compete again.

Bruce Futterer, of Russellville, AR won Fifth Best-of-Show ($100) with Pyramid. Bruce's carving features three painted guys, one atop the other, holding up an unpainted caricature of Marv Kaisersatt.

Exhibit winners in 2004 were:

• Human - Single under 7": Gary Falin, 1st and 4th, Werner Bock, Don Mertz, Doug Wilson.
• Single under 7" in a Scene: Ronald Boone, Vern Elmore, Werner Bock, Bruce Futterer.
• Single 7"-15": Phil LaGreco, Gary Falin, 2nd and 3rd, Werner Bock, Bob Minton.
• Single 7"-15" in a Scene: Gary Falin, Werner Bock, Edsel Johnson, Joe Schumacher.
• Single over 15": Bob Maiers, Phil LaGreco, Tony Harris, Jim Dupont, Bruce Futterer.
• Single Animal - Floyd Rhadigan, Sandy Smith, Bruce Futterer, Jim Dupont, Walter Wharton.
• Group - Animal: Mitchell Cartledge, Bob Maiers, James Snyder.
• Human: Bruce Futterer, 1st and 3rd, Bob Maiers, Dan Van Berkel, Phil LaGreco.
• Mixed: Andy Capps, P.J. Driscoll, Gary Falin, Floyd Rhadigan, Lee Ryals.
• Relief - James Fecteau, Bruce Futterer, 2nd and 3rd, Rita Ryser, Lois Dedman.
• Bust, Heads & Masks - Gary Falin, 1st and 2nd, Paul Enochs, Bruce Futterer, Tony Harris.
• Miniature - Gary Falin, Rusty Johnson, Mitchell Cartledge, Tony Harris, Mitchell Cartledge.
• Miscellaneous - Bruce Futterer, Gary Falin, 2nd and 3rd, B G Smith, Rusty Johnson
• Youth - Nathaniel Johnson, Nathaniel Johnson.
• Rough-out - Mitchell Cartledge, Mark Akers, Floyd Rhadigan, Renee' Manning, 4th and 5th.
  

Following the conclusion of judging all entries were placed on exhibit for the month of October during Dollywood's Fall Festival. We were especially pleased with the facilities this year. The carvings were grouped by category in large cases behind glass panels. This produced a museum quality exhibit.

We are eagerly anticipating the 2005 National Caricature Carving Competition at Dollywood. Now is the time to begin planning your entries. There is no limit to the number of entries per carver. We will continue our tradition of awarding over $4000 in cash prizes. Details concerning rules of competition and entry dates and the 2005 application form can be found on the CCA website. www.cca-carvers.org If you don't have access to the internet, please contact contact Bob Travis (530)758-5692, <rltravisATucdavis.DOTedu>; Randy Landen (316)788-0175, <rlandenATprodigyDOTnet>; or Caricature Carvers of America, PO Box 565, Derby KS 67037.