Who We Are
We are a wood carving club in Wilmington, North Carolina. Our members share a common interest in working with wood and other wood products. The club welcomes anyone who would like to learn more about this craft or explore a new aspect. Our members' skills range from beginners to expert.
We are:
Supportive of Participation, Achievement, and Fellowship
We strive to provide an atmosphere of fellowship, learning and recognition of carving achievements of all members.
Inclusive and Respectful
We are open to any person interested in carving without regard to age, gender, race, or any other characteristic.
A Learning Place
We want to advance wood carving in all its forms, through education and activities that encourage the sharing of knowledge and skill. We encourage members to work outside of their comfort zones and test their limits.
Club History
Since its founding in 1995, the Cape Fear Woodcarvers Club has grown to become an important arts resource in the Wilmington, North Carolina area. The seed for a wood carving club was planted during an American Legion ceremony luncheon when Andy Jones and Frank Buesseler discovered that they had a common interest in wood carving. Andy arranged with Poplar Grove Plantation to host their carving club and contacted the local newspaper and Chip Chats to announce the establishment of the group.
The first meeting in the fall of 1995 was attended by five carvers. Since then, club membership grew to more than 70 men and women, who came from as far north as Jacksonville, and as far south as Myrtle Beach, and all points in between.
In 2015 the club meeting location moved to the 5th Avenue United Methodist Church. In 2023, the closing of the Methodist church required us to move our meeting place again. We now meet at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 6th and Market streets in the Historic District of Wilmington. In recent years, membership has diminished to less than 40 but interest in our club is rebounding as Wilmington continues to grow.