| Project by ktabor72 | posted 10-24-2015 04:06 AM | 1321 views | 0 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
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I began carving 3 years ago and have tried a little of everything except chip carving. I am currently self taught. I was at a friends house when I saw that he had some old utility poles. I suggested he get one carved into a totem pole. ....he suggested I do it. I accepted the challenge and this was the result. 25.5 feet tall, 19 inch diameter. Wings are 10 feet. The pole is western red Cedar. I tried to follow traditional patterns but I have never seen a pole in person. It took a little over 3 months to carve.
11 comments so far
nonserviam
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32 posts in 2963 days
#1 posted 10-24-2015 04:14 AM
That belongs on the cover of DANG! magazine….holy smokes is that cool! great work!
-- -Vita brevis breviter in brevi finietur-
ktabor72
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7 posts in 1916 days
#2 posted 10-24-2015 04:16 AM
Thank you
Hawaiilad
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3375 posts in 3991 days
#3 posted 10-24-2015 05:07 AM
Great looking pole. I spent some time in Alaska watching men do carving on these…fun to watch and learn
-- Larry in Hawaii,
deon
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2522 posts in 3995 days
#4 posted 10-24-2015 06:15 AM
Wow, I would love one for my front yard
-- Dreaming patterns
muesli
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510 posts in 2479 days
#5 posted 10-24-2015 07:41 AM
There seems to be a typo in your post. I am sure, you started 30 years ago.
Very nice looking and very impressive!
-- Uwe from Germany.
Monte Pittman
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30582 posts in 3308 days
#6 posted 10-24-2015 12:14 PM
Impressive work
Welcome to Lumberjocks
-- Nature created it, I just assemble it.
sras
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5756 posts in 4099 days
#7 posted 10-24-2015 03:27 PM
That’s quite an accomplishment! Impressive – thanks for sharing.
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
oldnovice
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7700 posts in 4338 days
#8 posted 10-24-2015 05:40 PM
Did you sit on the top of that crane to carve the top of the totem?
-- "It's fine in practise but it will never work in theory"
ktabor72
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7 posts in 1916 days
#9 posted 10-24-2015 05:52 PM
That’s funny. ...I actually carved it with it lying on saw horses (cement blocks)I have about 100 photos of the process but thought the end was the important one.
The pole was for a friend (Mark) who is a single parent. The story: Mark works harder than almost anyone I know and is really trying to raise his son well. He is wise for his age, which comes from working for what he has and being patient. It is his work ethic and wisdom which will allow him and his son to soar.
You see him as a whale with his son on his fins, the beaver suggests his work ethic, the owl-wisdom, the eagle -his future (soaring). Stones at the bottom suggest the need to be anchored with a strong foundation.
wiser1934
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530 posts in 4117 days
#10 posted 10-25-2015 02:17 AM
that was a monumental task. nothing short of fantastic. i like the way you worked in all of your friends thoughts on life. super well done
-- wiser1934, new york
ktabor72
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7 posts in 1916 days
#11 posted 10-25-2015 05:24 AM
Thank you everyone for your kind comments. If you are in NNY you can go see it. The owner won’t mind. It’s in Herman NY. It’s a small area if you ask around someone will tell you where it is lol. I just moved to Fruita, CO and would love to do another one, hint, hint. Again, thanks for the compliments, it’s nice to know I am on the right track. ....
Ken
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