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Show 8A Lakeside Review, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1983 ivL Layton Artist Gels v A" .,: " '' V, International Attention: frees forms in Wood had turned out to get the river jack into its channel but I was interested in what he said about the trees. It was inconceivable to me that there could have been those great maples on that bare old By LYNDIA GRAHAM Review Correspondent LAYTON Its doubtful that there has ever been another person in Utah whose life has been so affected by a small piece of tree as has Betty Wil-cox-s. mountain. So Mrs. Wilcox and her children set out to explore that area and look for evidence of the its doubtful that there has ever been another person in Utah who has so affected the art And trees. of wood sculpture as Mrs. Wilcox. Her ability to The hiking led to some hard climbing. They stopped to rest on what they thought was a large rock but after a closer look they discovered that they were, in fact, sitting on an old free the she finds behind the bark of Utah trees has led to worldwide recognition for this remarkable lady and has given her life a fullness that many never find. A native of North Carolina, she came to Utah in 1946 after she married her husband who was from Utah. They are the forms maple tree. Mrs. Wilcox peeled back the bark to find "a beautiful birds . eye maple. She picked up a small piece of the tree and began to carve it with her old pocket knife. She said she saw a form and soon had carved a figure parents of four children and grandparents of two. Her children and her art WQrk j from the wood. walked hand in hand while the I children were still at home ac-- ; cording to Mrs. Wilcox. In fact her children were with her when she had the unusual experience ' that brought her talent to life. I always was interested in art, she said. I liked to work with my hands. Her obvious talent for draw-- ; ing and painting led her to vari- -' ous art classes in the 50s. Her ' unquenchable thirst for learn-- , ing pushed her to study and n excel but she felt a vague mediums with these art and wondered if there was a ; form of art where she could best express herself. i But she used her art as a nleans to get me out of myself, ; to broaden myself, and to make me more aware of the things : around me. ; She said her art work made Layton a more interesting town as she looked, looked ; again and then again at the r buildings and scenery around the area. VI began to see the beauty in ; the onion fields, the farming, all of the things that are done in a I home town, my home town, she said. Her interest in the buildings t led to study of Laytons history I was thrilled to discover it, she said. Almost instinctively she found the art form which she would later receive international recognition for. With her own children, and often their playmates in tow, she roamed the river banks of northern Utah where they would find little critters in the wood, critters such as squirrels, pheasants, and other small animals. satis-factio- ; It led to such rewarding ex- periences with the children, ! she said. " I ; We learned so much about the trees and wood here. It was most important to me because it gave me an exciting relationship with the kids. To carve little things from the trees was just such a pleasurable experience for me. I was enthralled. Her excitement and thirst for learning led her to the use of tools, a study of metals, how to sharpen and shape them and, most important, how to use them to get the results she desired. It just snowballed and snowballed, she said. I ! death to I looked for classes in wood- carving but to no avail. I dewhich she shared with her cided, heck, Ill do it anyway family. and developed it myself, learn- history, her natural curiosity; and a story told to her by John Adams led her to find the mis-- i sing link in her art work and a full expression of her talents, ; He told me that in 1923 there had been a flash flood in Weber Canyon; one so bad it had changed the course of the river and had washed out giant maple frees, she said. ' He recalled that all hands Mrs. Wilcox now teaches classes in this art form in Ogden. It gave my life a new and exciting dimension. I would hurry to get my house clean so I could spend the day with my children hiking or searching for a new wood. Her study of other art forms and art appreciation began to reflect their value in the flow and line of her carvings. 'Her fascination in the local ing from every source I could. I j , j I I She credits Laconte Stewart, a Davis County artist with teaching her to really see the things we look at. The beauty of her work became common knowledge and she gave away many of her early pieces. Several years ago she became a professionaland began selling both her sculptures and her paintings. It greatly pleased me that I could make something with my hands that someone would want to pay for, she said. The demand for her sculptures grew as did her reputation and the list of awards she won with them.She has taken many first place awards in the professional divisions at state fairs and Intermountain Artist exhibits. She won the first place honors twice - with the International Wood Carvers Association. She has taken first place in the Canadian National exhibit and other international ex- hibits. Many other awards have been awarded to Mrs. Wilcox for her carvings in many categories. Mrs. Wilcox said she often drives many mjles to find the wood she wants. Friends will often tell her of an interesting tree they have seen or even bring her pieces of trees from around the world as they travel. A client from Australia sent her a piece of ironwood and friends brought her some willow from Alaska to carve. Her knowledge of wood and trees has also given her an insight into local history. di-mo- One of her most exciting finds came from behind the Montgomery Wards store in Layton RELAXING on steps outside her studio, Betty Wilcox displays some of her sculptures. where she found an old sage Wood has a life and characMrs. Wilcox, in pleasing herorange tree which is not native courage couples and families to to the area. ter of its own that you respect as take up this new hobby together self with her work, has also The pioneers planted them a living thing, she said. I and said that she only regrets pleased the countless numbers as windbreaks and used them as cant impose my will on wood. that she wasnt aware of it when who have viewed her work. But fence posts because they dont You dont contest it.- You learn her children were home beher work is only a means to an rot. They are a strong and to know what it cant and can cause it would have given her end according to her beautiful wood. do. many more opportunities to in- philosophy. She made many carvings of I have used art as a spreadWorking with wood is a clude the kids. forms she found in that tree. spiritual experience. Art usualMrs. Wilcox maintains a high ing out of myself. I never set out She said that sometimes the ly is an egotistical experience, standard of excellence in her to be a great artist, but an interform in the tree is apparent to but not with wood. work but not for reasons of sel- esting person. her right away and sometimes But through her love for her Mrs. Wilcox is especially ling her work or pleasing others it may take years for her to see known for her Indian sculp- with it. She works to please her- work Betty Wilcox certainly has the form. But her feelings for tures. She said that she likes to self and feels that is most im- become both to a degree seldom the wood and the forms never recall the old Indian legends portant. seen. that tell of a dead Indians spirit change. She will carve pieces of wood resting somewhere in each tree. cut square and stripped of barlf I seem to see a lot of Indians from the local lumber yards be- in the juniper trees. I just grab a JULIE ASHBY SAYS: cause she believes in much self and find an Indian resting log discipline. She will force herself then turn him loose, to work with what she terms peacefully she said with a twinkle in her dead wood, but only when the need is very specific. She much eyes. She often carves just an Inprefers working with the trees dian but also has carved she finds. specific Indians which she learned about through study at ' the Smithsonian Institute. Her sculpture of Chief Washakie, who led a peace - ; movement between Indians and settlers, is on display at the Layton City Hall. Even with the level of perfect tion she has reached in her work Mrs. Wilcox is constantly trying new techniques and tools to learn about new dimensions of her work. Power tools such as chain saws and drills have become a current topic of study and her desire to learn to use new tools comes from what she called the old American spirit to find a better way. .'.V.WMVAVWM'.X EXPERIENCED hands of Betty Wilcox work with chisel. and confident, Her interest in the trees found locally led her into her latest area of interest, that of the rocks and gems in the area. She studies their history and the impact the rocks, gems and minerals have had on the area. She is involved with the Golden Spike Gem and Mineral Society and can hardly contain her enthusiasm for this new area of study. She hopes to en WITH THE HELP OF NUTRISYSTEM, AND NOW FRIENDS WALK BY WITHOUT EVEN RECOGNIZING ME! never used to think about how much I ate. But with NutriSystem I learned to concentrate and make every meal count. 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Achieve your goal by the date specified or pay no additional charges for Nutri System services until you do. calorie-countin- Golden Years Center a Seniors Haven .. day at the center at Raviaw CorrMpondant While some 'BOUNTIFUL senior citizens watch the clock tick ever faster and spend idle moments at home alone, there are many at the Golden Years Senior Citizens Center in Bountiful who are having lunch with friends, dancing once a month, and sharing their interests and hobbies with others. The center is for all people 60 or over in the south Davis area. Those who wish to become members can register at the center, 726 S. 100 E., Bountiful for $6 a year. There, they have access to TV, pool tables, and books from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday and enjoy the t rnmpnny others. lunch on Feb. 22 at a discount. a.m. The cost will be $1.25 for pizza and lunches are delivered to and a salad or for a sandwich. homebound seniors. Reserva- Reservations must be made at tions for lunch at the center the center by Friday, Feb. 18. must be made a day in advance Valley Music Hall is offering by calling the Golden Years the members free tickets to see South Pacific on Feb. 23, and Center. for is can be obtained at the the members tickets Coming up a meeting to inform people ab- center in advance. out utility increases. The next For those who like to dance, meeting is Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. the center holds a dance on the Cheese and butter will again last Friday of each month at be distributed at the center on 12:30 p.m. Music is provided by Feb. 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to' the centers own jazz band, 3:30 p.m. Those who wish to which practices regularly ' on pick up their five pounds of Fridays at 10 a.m. Any member cheese and two pounds of butter who can play an instrument can should give their social security be in the band, and there is also an orchestra which practices on number on the application. Pinocchios in Colonial Square Tuesday at 1 p.m. The American Association of has .invited senior citizens to Lunch is served every week- By CHERYL ARCHIBALD ; 11:30 Retired persons its meetings at the third Monday and the National (AARP) holds the center on of each month Association of Retired, Federal Employees (NARF), meets on the second Monday. Both meetings are at 1230 p.m. There are many classes at the;; center such as wood carving; sewing, China- painting, toil,, painting, ceramics, lapidary or rock polishing, and oil painting. - Aerobics and bingo are on the weekly calendar of events also. Most classes are held in the morning; to get the complete schedule, call the center at 295-- ; 3479. Classes, are free to all members, but materials are not included. . 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