Showcasing the splendor and exquisiteness of wood.
Mainly specializing in artist designed spoons and wood turnings, wood carver, Gene Frye, takes great pride in carving. From simple designs to the complex, he applies his special God-given skill and talent to every project he undertakes.
Originally from Virginia, Gene now calls north central West Virginia home.
Gene uses a vast array of specific tools for my trade, such as, various styles of carving knives, a carving axe, a froe, several types of spoon knives that many refer to as a “hook” knife.
In 2018, Gene built an 18th century style, foot-powered, German designed 2-pole spring lathe. This style wood lathe, which is portable, was used by early settlers for their needs for bowls and turnings.
To keep things authentic as well as being portable, Gene has intentionally limited the number of tools used in his trade. He loves to carve in his workshop, which is in the backyard of his home, but he also loves to take items to the woods and carve there.
A lifelong relationship describes Gene’s love for wood. This bond began from his rearing in the mountains of Alleghany County, Virginia. It was there where he was surrounded by thousands and thousands of acres of mountain woodlands in this rural county. His childhood was spent in woods and this is where he felt most at home. To Gene, the woods present a place of tranquility, ease and autonomy. Unlike any other place gene have been in his life, the woods allow him to be himself.
It was not until recently that Gene developed the yearning to carve. As a youngster he learned to use a Barlow knife by an older Gentleman and didn’t carve anything special but did quickly learn how use the knife without shedding blood.
In 2016, Gene experienced an overwhelming desire to explore the art of spoon and bowl woodcarving. This has been an interesting journey. He quickly learned that after carving several hundred spoons his work was beginning show some promise but wasn’t quite what he was looking for.
Gene took a short break in 2017 and turned wood on the lathe for a short time but had “those feelings” to go back to work with spoons. He soon realized each spoon should have a meaning or a connection that people could relate, and this has led to the style of spoons he carves today. Gene feels this will continue to evolve and where this will lead to, he has no idea, but he says this will be a fun trip!
Lastly, Gene sincerely hopes people will see the works of his hands as a respect of one of earth’s most abundant resources, the tree, from which these carvings are made. Throughout the forests of West Virginia, fallen wood and damaged and diseased trees are bountiful so there is simply no need to fell timber to carve a spoon; therefore, Gene want everyone to know that what he does for this trade will always have a minimal impact on nature and thus reinforces rather than undermines who he is and the creative intentions he possess.