Meet local woodcarver Mike McGinley and see his walnut creations at the Graceful Arts Gallery and Studio
January 3, 2020
"I'm a woodworker, not an artist," Mike McGinley points out about his works of art he carves from various types of wood – mainly walnut – for his display of animals from jackrabbits and buffalo to roadrunners you'll find at the Graceful Arts Gallery and Studio tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. The studio is located on the south side of the square – just west of Holder Drug.
"Walnut is hard to carve, but easy to sand and file. I make sawdust," McGinley said. Taking a piece of wood and carving it into the shape you want "is not fun or relaxing, but it beats watching TV!"
He explained, "It takes lots of concentration to get a piece finished without an ear or other piece falling off. If it does you have to start over." That's how woodcarving differs from ceramics or clay, he said – you can't smooth out a small section and put it back on. He creates some of his animals freestyle.
"I draw everything first, to get the right proportions," McGinley explained. "Another hard part is fitting the drawing to the wood. The drawing has to fit the wood."
He spends an estimated 30 hours carving an animal that meets his own tough critiques. Needless to say, "No one comes in my shop."
When asked how his love of working with wood began, McGinley said, "Long story short, when we were first married we had no money and no TV. I would sit in the kitchen and whittle." That was 59 years ago when he and Carolyn got married. They were Alva kids who graduated from Alva High School – he graduated in 1957 and from Northwestern at Alva in 1961. He later earned a master's degree in Industrial Arts and Technology from Pittsburg State and a specialist degree from the University of Missouri.
"We came here (to Kiowa, Kansas) in 1960 to teach one year," McGinley said with a laugh. "I taught in Kiowa 35 years." He was the industrial arts teacher and Carolyn was the school librarian. He later taught night classes at NWOSU.
In his days of teaching, McGinley said he and students cleaned the shop daily – sweeping up the sawdust and putting the tools away. In later years when he substitute taught he found that not to be the case, which surprised him. He didn't think that was the role of custodians.
Back to his woodcarvings, McGinley said he uses multiple tools – various sizes of knives, carving tools, pocket knives, wood rasps, etc.
While he has a passion for working with wood, McGinley is an adventurist. He and Carolyn travel the world – to sometimes exotic places. Just ask him and he'll have some great stories.
He has many hobbies – collecting arrowheads and other Indian collectibles, silversmithing; ask him about his car collection.
McGinley is known for his extraordinary gift-giving from his handmade collections. His real passion has been for his mules – especially Daisy Mae. He rode his mules in many places like New Mexico and west of Hardtner looking for arrowheads – and even on 50-mile endurance rides.
Don't even get Carolyn started on her husband's literally back-breaking mule rides.
McGinley has a simple philosophy using his woodcarvings, "It's kind of like life – you just flow with the grain."
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