Whidbey Island, Washington
www.groeschen.com


         Alfred             Toppingtheir backyard tree, fearing it would blow over in a windstorm, Mr.Forsburg and Ms. Miller called upon me, hoping I could add lasting value to their12 foot Doug Firstump.  Theyfirstencountered  my woodcarving by receiving a troll as a gift,fromtheir daughter, Marj. The troll, AKA Alfred, was created in March2005.  He emerged from a 3' chunk of Jeffrey Pine which I hauled backto Washington State fromNevada. 
   Phil, the commissioner of the project, lived in Alaskaalmost the same amount of years as the tree's age. During his stay, hebecame versed in totem poles and Northwest Coastal Art.  Phil,wanted a symbolic reminder of what was so common in the Alaskasurroundings, but lacking in their current backyard.  Mrs. Miller, is also aloverof the Northwest Coastal Art.  She shared 3 books from herlibrary, onetitled, From the Land of the Totem Poles: The Northwest Coast Indian Art Collection at the American Museum of Natural History byAldona Jonaitis.  A grand book.
    After discussing many typesof animals, including pigs, owls, and whales.  I finally drew asketch of GrizzleyBear at the base, Raven, and the Guardian topping it off.  This is what we are going with.
    It's an honor to revive a seemingly dead tree stumpinto a work art, especially in someone's own personal space addingmeaning in many ways.  The soon to be totem, will live in Edmond's, Washington.

copyright 2006 Jessie Groeschen