Norway museum celebrates ‘The Romance of Wood’
This summer’s theme at the Jake Menghini Historical Museum in Norway is “The Romance of Wood.” A painting titled “The Logger” by Cecil Thomas and in front of the painting his carving, from one log, of wild horses.
Peter DeDecker’s carving “Native with Spirit of the Cougar.”
This summer’s theme at the Jake Menghini Historical Museum in Norway is “The Romance of Wood.” A painting titled “The Logger” by Cecil Thomas and in front of the painting his carving, from one log, of wild horses.
Peter DeDecker’s carving “Native with Spirit of the Cougar.”
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NORWAY -- The Jake Menghini Historical Museum in Norway is honoring the "hewn from virgin forests" -- the condition existing when Dickinson County villages were founded -- for the 2023 season.
"The Romance of Wood" is the theme chosen to represent the continuing love affair U.P. residents have with renewable forest resources.
Two local artists who drew upon the spirit of the forests are the late Cecil Theron Thomas of Norway and contemporary woodcarver Peter DeDecker of Flattail Creek Studios.
Thomas displayed unusual gifts in several mediums. During World War II, the son of Cornish immigrants Tobias and Elizabeth Thomas wasn't content to only write his parents and friends newsy letters from the Pacific front where he served as an officer in the Army Air Force. He'd illustrated his letters with poignant sketches of his impressions of the areas in which he served.
Since high school, where he built watercraft in shop classes that are still in use, Thomas could not see an interesting piece of wood with out envisioning it translated into a household object of use and beauty.
"At the museum, we are privileged to show the community some of his collection," Judy Carlson said.
A smaller display of the work of locally born and raised DeDecker offers as a tempting sample.
He and his wife Barbara own and operate Flattail Creek Studios. His work displays his interest and enthusiasm for nature's beauty.
DeDecker began carving in 1991, and his medium includes weathered wood, tree trunks, branches and roots, each one-of-a-kind, signed and dated.
Pieces of his artwork will be offered for sale to collectors inside the museum.
The Jake Menghini Historical Society invited the community to its upcoming museum events. They include:
-- Tuesday, July 18, 5:30 p.m., the annual "Music on the Farm" free concert and ice cream social;
-- Saturday, July 29, free entrance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to the museum's "The Romance of Wood" artisans show and sale;
-- Saturday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., "From the U.P. to the Yukon: Klondike Mile and Norway's O'Callaghan Family," a free lecture by Carol Sundstrom at Norway City Hall.
Visitors can also view museum displays during operation hours from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.