[Woodcarver] WOOD CARVER FROM INDIA

[R. Stephan Toman]

Hi All;;

     I want to follow up on Bill's comments...

     Sarfaraz contacted me perhaps a year ago...It was a general 
email he sent out to as many potential business associations as he 
apparently could find searching the web.  I think he found me on 
CustomMade.com.  He invited me to view his website, so I took a 
look.  I realized from the git-go that he had gleaned as many photos 
as he could of carvings from all over the Internet, and was using 
them as examples of what he could do, but I figured that was simply 
business and it didn't particularly bother me, as long as he wasn't 
blowing steam about his skills.

     I continued to search the site for examples of carvings close 
enough to my own work to give me some idea of his pricing ( to see if 
there might be some way I could work with him and still make a little 
money ).  And there, at the end of one of his galleries, was a 
picture from my own web pages of a piece that I had designed and 
carved, the original of which I still have in my shop.

     So, rather than getting miffed, I challenged Sarfaraz to make me 
a copy of this piece from the photo and to send it to me at his own 
expense.  A few weeks later I received a package with not only this 
piece, but several other samples of his work.  All of the work was 
quite impressive, much better than other Asian architectural-type 
carving I have seen, and beautifully finished...He has a keen eye for 
detail and a quick and sure hand.  I also realized that he is an 
honorable man...one who was willing to take a risk on my challenge at 
what probably was a significant expense to himself.

     Since then I have been trying to develop a way to utilize his 
work...Unfortunately, I have had the usual difficulties in opening up 
a market that can justify my investing in more carvings than those I 
can do myself.  Just yesterday a door may have finally opened a 
crack, and I am really hoping that I can begin to work with Sarfaraz 
on some designs.

     Meanwhile, I have had an intermittent and cordial conversation 
in progress with Sarfaraz. He is a humble and somewhat formal 
man.  He even invited me to his wedding a couple of months back...It 
was a little too far to travel, so we didn't make it, but he sent me 
pictures.  His new wife is lovely,and a Muslim wedding gown is 
spectacular to behold.

     Anyhow, please give the guy a break...We all are trying to make 
a living, and through-out history it's been the artist who has gotten 
screwed most often for work that should be on a pay scale with at 
least college professors, if not doctors and lawyers, considering the 
truth that artistic skill is a rare gift, while most other 
occupations can be learned from books.  Sarfaraz has a hope for 
himself and a vision for the other carvers he knows, and he's trying 
diligently to make it happen.

     Even if you can't relate to Sarfaraz situation, or use his 
products, you don't have to ream him out for his valid rebuke of our 
insensitivity, or his misunderstanding of our culture...Ninety-five 
percent of the people on the planet think that America is Heaven, 
with streets paved in gold...and that  we should have no problem 
helping them get a leg up in their little corner of the world.  They 
don't have a clue, most of the time, of what kind of self-centered 
jerks we can be.  Most of them have no conception of the American 
dream of "retirement"....In their world it tends to be "life is 
hard...then you die", and they find their happiness on the fly, not 
in the sunset years.

     I, for one, am cheering loudly for Sarfaraz, who has discovered 
through the Internet a way to make his voice heard outside of his 
village....potentially a way to escape from the control of the greedy 
fat-cats of his world who would exploit the local people while 
discovering the dark-side of American-style capitalism.

     So, if any of you can think of a way you might be able to 
encourage him, please do so...And if you don't have anything good to 
say...please don't say it...Such comments aren't really helpful or necessary.

     In the King's Service,

     Stephan Toman




At 02:14 AM 10/22/2006, you wrote:

>DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR 

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>

>

>Gentle Subscribers:

>

>I'm not inclined to dismiss this letter from Sarfaraz as "insulting".

>I don't think that was his intent. And I don't think his message

>constitutes SPAM, either.

>

>There are people in third world countries who make a subsistence

>living from wood carving... think of the work that makes its way into

>the stores run by "Ten Thousand Villages" (http:// 

>www.tenthousandvillages.ca/). I think this is what he is talking about.

>

>We need to remember that North American carvers carve mostly for

>pleasure and as a pass-time. Most carvers overseas, especially in

>poorer countries carve because their life depends on it. Those who

>actually make a living from their carving have organized, as Sarfaraz

>is suggesting, to create and market their wood carving products and

>to obtain "fair wage" for their work.

>

>Sarfaraz, I believe, misunderstands the mentality of the North

>American carver, who carves to be creative, to socialize, to relieve

>stress. Few North American carvers make their living by carving. This

>can come as a shock to those who come from poor countries where

>carving skills are life-skills.

>

>Yet in my 25 years of experience as a carving instructor, I've

>noticed that carving is done mostly by retired men and women, or

>those who are close to retirement, and wish to prepare for it by

>establishing a solid hobby to take them through the retirement years.

>So Sarfaraz is not far off the mark in his assessment of N.A. carving.

>

>What he also misunderstands is that most N.A. carvers do not want

>carving to become work for them. That would take the fun, creativity

>and benefits away from this type of activity.

>

>So, give Sarfaraz a break, OK? Perhaps he has something to teach us.

>

>Blessing and Peace,

>

>Bill

>List Owner

>

>My books are for sale at: http://wwwoodcarver.com/Books/index.html

>W.F. Judt,

>46 Harvard Cres,

>Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,

>S7H3R1

>PH: 306-373-6649

>Email: bjudt at sasktel.net

>Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com

>

>

>On 21-Oct-06, at 10:44 PM, Byron wrote:

>>

>>Kind of insulting.  I've seen this kind of talk before.  If you

>>want to see more just do a search on 419.

>>

>>Byron Kinnaman

>>abkinnaman at earthlink.net

>>http://home.earthlink.net/~abkinnaman

>>

>>

>>

>>----- Original Message -----

>>From: ASIA CARVINGS

>>To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net

>>Sent: 10/21/2006 9:29:27 PM

>>Subject: [Woodcarver] WOOD CARVER FROM INDIA

>>

>>Hi all,

>>I have been on this woodcarver digest list for sometime as a trial

>>for one month granted to me by Mr.bill. I experienced that this

>>portal could be used much better but most of the carver over here

>>are engaged in just personal chitchat. I felt that most of the

>>carvers are retired and having done their last best of the life. No

>>one is interested in utilising carving skill for giving employment

>>to many by marketing the products and importing and exporting

>>somethings between some countries. It seems that this portal is

>>mainly for the retired old men who have no more interest in doing

>>business with the people of other world.

>>This is my humble request to all who read this, please interact and

>>help people in marketing woodcarvings to generate employements. Do

>>not share life time experience for personal satisfaction. One of

>>your very small move can become a source for the bread of many

>>people in other countries. This looks indirect but direct

>>assistance or help to the mankind and humanity.

>>Any way, please forgive me if it hurt anyone.

>>There are many countries where many highly skilled carver are being

>>exploited by large fish in the ocean and they are unble to obtain

>>right wages for them and they are unable to obtain easy bread for

>>their families and hence this noble job is under extinction in many

>>countries.

>>I want to raise a voice for such unidentified carvers and so I

>>establish an institution in India and wish to organise carvers from

>>around the world to get those skilled carver on the rise who are

>>hidden due to some uncertain reasons. people around the world

>>mainly fron developed countries must help with their experience to

>>organise this move for charity or so.

>>Well i need your attantion please

>>Sarfaraz

>>_______________________________________________

>>Woodcarver mailing list

>>Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net

>>http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver

>

>_______________________________________________

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   R. Stephan Toman - artisan/carver
-- Sonrise Woodcarving  Studio --

Refined carving, sculpture, and furniture-making
in the Old World and American
woodcarving and woodworking traditions

Phone: 845-687-9139
E-Fax: 707-361-0206
Email: sonrisewoodcarvingstudio at pobox.com

Web Galleries: www.sonrisewoodcarving.com








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