Woodcarving at the Wendell Gilley (Fall 2023 HandWorks Festival)

Fall 2023 Handworks Festival

Woodcarving at the Wendell Gilley Museum with Steve Valleau

Wednesday, November 8th 
10:30 a.m. - Noon

Special Festival Registration Fee:
$20 (includes all materials) 

Carve a stylized bird from Butternut wood using a carving knife. This beginning carving class – taught by the Wendell Gilley Museum’s master carver Steve Valleau – will cover safe knife use, sharpening and layout. All materials supplied.


Meet the Artist

Steven holds a degree in biology from the University of Maine but has been creating birds since was about 11 years old. By the early 1980s, he was carving up to 200 birds a year and selling them at the Gilley’s museum store and at craft fairs. In the summer of 1985 he took a summer job teaching carving at the museum and found his place; he has been carving birds for the Gilley and teaching others the love of the craft for 37 years.

NOTE: This class takes place at the Wendell Gilley Museum.