Wood-carved statues charming Jim Woods Park visitors in Steubenville
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STEUBENVILLE -- Appreciated in person by park visitors and shared on social media, three wood-carved statues alongside Jim Wood Park have become a visually pleasing new attraction for the recreational area.
Made from a three-pronged tree stump, the statues depict two brightly colored birds -- a cardinal and a blue jay -- as well as a seated beagle. The statues overlook the amenities in the park, which sits just off John Scott Highway.
Although not located in the park itself, the statues are easily visible from the park as they stand in the backyard of 220 Canterbury Blvd., the home of Dan Wood.
Wood has lived at the Canterbury Boulevard property for about 25 years. Recognizing that individuals will often pass by his property to use the park, Wood said he wanted to create "something that the people at the park could appreciate, too."
In November, Wood had two pine trees in his front yard that he wanted to have removed. Researching online, he found Dan Kidd, who runs the decorative tree carving business Conotton Creek Woodworks in Scio.
Wood contacted Kidd, and the two "became pretty good friends," he said, adding, "(Kidd) is a really nice guy, very religious guy, incredible artist. I don't know how the heck he does it."
From one of the pine trees, Kidd carved a bald eagle that stares up at Wood's flagpole, bearing the U.S. flag. The eagle was inspired by Wood's patriotism as a veteran, having served in the Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s and being stationed in Iran during the country's year-long hostage crisis.
Around January, Wood wanted to create statues out of his three backyard trees, which are joined at the base.
Originally, Wood planned to have Kidd carve the stumps into three birds, but plans changed upon the death of Wood's 15-year-old beagle, Lennon -- named after John Lennon of the Beatles. Instead, Wood provided Kidd with a photograph of Lennon, and one of the statues was then modeled after the dog in memoriam.
For the remaining two figures, Wood requested a cardinal, the state bird of Ohio, and a blue jay, which he thinks are "pretty." Although the eagle was made from the stump itself, the three backyard statues needed to be carved out of separate stumps at Kidd's home and transplanted onto Wood's stumps, which were hollow on the inside and couldn't be carved directly.
"(Kidd's) work is so perfect and detailed. ... Everything's exact," Wood said, noting that Lennon's portrayal in the statue is a spitting image.
Now, Wood said, he has frequently seen individuals taking photos of the eagle and the statues in his backyard -- a testament to the quality of Kidd's work.
Kidd himself has been carving wooden statues for about 10 years, doing so full-time for nine years. A cabinetmaker, Kidd started carving statues as a hobby but realized there was a market for his creations, so he began selling them at flea markets in Amish country before spreading to some local county fairs and other festivals.
During his 10 years in business, Kidd said he's made as many as 2,500 pieces, from handheld carvings to stumps more than 10 feet tall. His primary subject is wildlife, but he's also done people like Native Americans and other "off-the-wall" figures like sasquatches, a tattoo machine and a dump truck.
Examples of Kidd's work for Conotton Creek Woodworks can be seen on his Facebook page, which he said is how many people discover his business, along with word-of-mouth advertising. Kidd said he can be called at (740) 945-1165 for business requests.
Kidd said his creative process begins either with clients requesting what they want from a carving or Kidd speaking with them to discover their hobbies, basing his creation around those. He carves almost entirely with a chainsaw, using a die grinder for small detailing, and he colors the figures using wood stains for a more natural look or paint for vivid hues.
Kidd has worked with wood for around 35 years, but he's always been interested in art, having studied the subject while attending college in the 1970s. He had been looking forward to a career in art before eventually pursuing cabinetry. When the opportunity to do woodcarving appeared, Kidd said, it perfectly combined his love of art with his existing skills.
"I'm just thankful that the Lord has given me an occupation that I love doing," Kidd said.
Dan Wood has no more trees on his property to give Kidd space to create, but Kidd's existing works can still charm visitors to Jim Wood Park. Wood said he'll continue to work on his back yard, preparing to add split-rail fencing and plant flowers along his slope in the spring to please visitors.
Although the loss of his dog was sad, Wood said he's glad to have a memorial for Lennon that others can appreciate as well.