Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 926
"Voice of the Lower Mississippi River"
25th Anniversary Year of the Quapaw Canoe Company
Clarksdale, MS ~ Memphis, TN ~ Wilson, AR ~ Vicksburg, MS
Delta School Intermediate Class Dugout Canoe Project (photo: Thad Lee). The group decided to call themselves the “Waterproof Eyebrows” for this activity. I’m not exactly sure why, but it seemed to fit somehow.
Photo Essay: we have been leading a canoe-carving workshop at the Delta School of Wilson, Arkansas. It's hard work. It also captures the imagination, and rekindles long forgotten traditions.
A stray dog adopted by the students, and named “Goose,” became mascot.
Goose passed away during the project
Sharing design ideas with group. You can’t start carving until you have an image firmly planted in your imagination.
Goose will be carved into the canoe
Carving a name plaque from one of the cut-offs
The S.S. Goose
Tool Sharpening is one of the essential skills
Traditional wood-carving tools were used: adzes, axes, scorps, and chisels
Teamwork, community building, cooperation, and mentorship are all exercised in project. About 50 students, parents and teachers participated. The Waterproof Eyebrows created design, and did most of the carving. School caretaker made a gift of piñon pine pitch and cedar for the fire. The log came from a 125 year old cypress that was pushed over during severe storms (and a near tornado strike) in June 2023. Good job Waterproof Eyebrows!
We used the oldest of all canoe carving methods: fire
We hope the dream fires are burning for you & your family into the long nights of the season. In the sacred way, the dreams are carried by the smoke directly to creator. It’s a good time to let go, and seek new pathways.
We’re celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2023
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