Les Suchman, River City Carvers will be displaying their creations at Aartful Rose and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri

Few art forms have as rich a history as wood carving. Examples of the craft will be on display during today's First Friday Art Walk.

Carvings by Les Suchman and the River City Carvers will be at Aartful Rose and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, respectively.

"Carving for me is very relaxing, but it's also very spiritual," Suchman said. "I try to capture something that God created."

Suchman said he enjoys carving fish and birds of prey. He will be showing one of his favorite pieces, a peregrine falcon. Suchman will also demonstrate his skill during the exhibit. He will be working on a screech owl in flight.

"I like my carvings to stay realistic," he said. "I try to capture something that would happen in real life and carve animals as they are moving or about to move."

LAURA SIMON ~lsimon@semissourian.com

Suchman began carving in 1978. He went into a hobby shop to purchase items for a train set and saw a carving kit of a shoe. Suchman enjoyed it, and the clerk informed him of a class at Northeast Arkansas Community College. The next year Suchman helped teach the class. The year after, he was substitute instructor.

He carves on his patio after work or on camping trips. Suchman makes every part of his carvings himself with the exception of glass eyes. He uses both hand tools and power tools to create his scenes. A piece can take a couple of hours or several weeks.

Several more carvings will be displayed at the arts council where the River City Carvers have a wall to themselves. The carvings range from miniature replications of everyday items to full-size scenes, including Christmas pieces with Santa Claus. There are also carvings of a carousel horse, animals, cowboys and Indians.

"This is such a unique, almost lost art form," said Murielle Wyman, director of the arts council. "You will really see the skill of these artists."

One piece, "Court is in Session" by Art Edwards, shows a full courtroom case. Each member has his or her own personality. One juror held a rope, ready for the defendant. Another juror held out a spider to scare the woman seated in front of him.

LAURA SIMON ~lsimon@semissourian.com

The River City Carvers began in 1993 to promote and support the art of carving. The Carvers meet at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge. Each meeting consists of a brief business meeting followed by some show and tell.

The Carvers also have one Saturday workshop a month, where one club member teaches a small carving project.

"Carving is a stress-relieving hobby that is very relaxing and allows the individual to put forth as much effort as he or she decides," said Sharon LeDure, a member of the carvers.

The group invites visitors to sit in on a meeting or two before deciding to join. Yearly dues are $8 for an individual or $12 for a family.

For more information on Suchman, contact the Aartful Rose 332-7673 or www.rosebedinn.com. For more information on the River City Carvers, contact Dave and Sharon LeDure at 243-1616. For more information on the arts council, call 334-9233 or www.capearts.org.