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HOLDSWORTH GIVES BETHANY CARVED ANNIVERSARY SEAL
Bethany College Professor Emeritus Gene Holdsworth has presented Bethany President Paul Formo with a wood carving of the college’s 125th anniversary seal. Bethany will finish a year-long celebration of the 125th founding of the college in December.
Holdsworth, professor of music at Bethany from 1970 to 1996, started carving 15-20 years ago after taking a class with Lindsborg woodworker Norman Malm. The type of carving Holdsworth does is called “chip carving.” Tiny cuts are made into the wood and chips are removed, creating patterns and textures.
Holdsworth uses basswood, a type of northern linden tree. The best basswood for carving comes from Wisconsin, because the temperature is right for growing wood with the right hardness, according to Holdsworth.
Each carving has as many as 1,000 cuts, but unlike other forms of woodworking, chip carving only requires minimal equipment—usually only four knives.
After being carved, the wood is finished with a lacquer but is not stained. The depth and angles of the cuts are what create the design. “The interplay between light and shade is what chip carving is all about,” said Holdsworth.
He has created a series of chip carvings that echo quilt designs, and he makes small painted ornaments, in addition to larger works.
Holdsworth is represented by the Small World Gallery in Lindsborg and accepts commissions and special projects.
Holdsworth has done other types of projects, as well. He created a wood and plexiglass display case for Lester Raymer’s Noah’s ark at the Red Barn Studio and made a “meditation gateway” for the gallery’s north courtyard.
He created a dala horse titled Uppsa Dala Airways as part of the Lindsborg wild dala horse project. It is on permanent display in the reading room of the Lindsborg Public Library.
Copies of Bethany’s 125th seal may be purchased from Holdsworth for $60.
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