about us

CAPITAL WOODCARVERS ASSOCIATION OF SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA (Established July 1972)

Capital Woodcarvers Association (CWA) is a non-profit, tax exempt, woodcarving club organized to promote the art of woodcarving and improve the skill of its members. There are currently 108 members in good standing who meet on the second Tuesday of each month for business, and on the fourth Tuesday of each month for carving demonstrations and group projects. Approximately 50 members attend the business meetings, and 25 members are currently participating in the group carving night projects. Both of these club meetings run from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Arden Park Recreation Center at La Sierra and San Ysidro in Sacramento, CA.
For the most part, carving is performed with small, sharp hand-tools with carvers seated at worktables.

CWA sponsors and hosts a two-day (weekend) annual exhibition and judging show, which is currently held in the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on H Street in Sacramento, CA. This is a public show where carving competition winners are exhibited, raffle prizes are awarded, refreshments are provided, and carving skills are demonstrated by CWA members as a means of interesting potential, new members in joining the club. Show activities sometimes include demonstrations of chain-saw carving, the turning of small objects on wood lathes and mallet and chisel carvings. Weekend attendance at the show averages around 1,500.

CWA sponsors weekend Major Seminars taught by nationally known carving/artist instructors, and student capacity is limited to (12) twelve. On the average, there will be 5-6 seminars in a year which lasts from 2 to 3 days. Sign-ups are on a "firt come/first serve" basis. CWA sponsors Saturday one day Mini Seminars conducted by club members with advanced skills in a variety of subjects, e.g., tool sharpening, wood painting, chip carving, Santas, Little People, etc. These mini seminars are scheduled for popular interest and attendance is not usually limited.

CWA celebrates the holidays by several carving and painting nights to create over 100 carved ornaments which are delivered to the children in the pediatric ward in the University of California, Davis Medical Center located in Sacramento. This popular activity brings jor to the carvers and the children alike.

CWA puts on two enjoyable events during the year. The CWA picnic is held in May or June at the Arden Park Recreation Center, featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and all the fixins' at live music at no charge to members. In the middle of December a Christmas party dinner and gift exchange is held at the Carmichael Elks Lodge, 5631 Cypress Ave., Carmichael, CA.

CWA sponsors a group carving session and potluck on every Monday at Shirley Coffelt's shop on 4651, Moddison Ave, Sacramento, CA, 95819 from 2:30 PM to around 8:00 PM. Stay as long as you want. Participants work on a project of their choice and share carving information and skill development techniques of mutual interest. It's a chance to share good people, good talk, good food and lots of carving and information in an informal atmosphere.

Revised - 6/1/06