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Calusa Carvers Show Set For March 1, 2

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

Published: February 23, 2008

HUDSON, Fla. - HUDSON, Fla. - Lifelike, wooden renderings of birds by artist Larry Tackman will take the spotlight at the annual Calusa Wood Carvers Show and Sale March 1 and 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

He sells most of his carvings before they are even finished, club spokeswoman E. Jane Wentworth explained.

Besides being a member of Calusa Wood Carvers, Tackman also belongs to the Weeki Wachee Wood Carvers, in Spring Hill.

Born and raised in Bay City, Mich., Tackman worked for Dow Corning Corp. for 34 years and married his high school sweetheart, Rosemary.

He had an itch to express his artistic abilities upon retirement in 1996. He joined the Tri City Wood Carvers in Saginaw, Mich., to take lessons in the wood carving craft.

He started carving cowboy boots, characters and animals at first, but soon gravitated toward concentrating on songbirds and hawks as the subjects for his projects.

Tackman prefers carving with power tools. And like many other carvers his wood of choice comes from the tupelo, or pepperidge, tree, which can be found in coastal areas of Florida.

He makes his own patterns and cutouts. To represent a bird's claws, he used copper wire covered with epoxy resin. He prefers acrylic paints to add colors to his creations.

Rosemary often makes suggestions for his carvings.

A slew of ribbons and awards Tackman has won usually wind up in a drawer.

After retirement, the Tackmans migrated to Florida. They enjoy golfing daily. Married for 46 years, they have three children and eight grandchildren.

The 28th annual show will take place at the recreation complex, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson.

For more information about the 28th annual show, call David Gourley at 727-376-2180, or send him an e-mail.

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