January 2006 Artist of the Month

Each month LARAC highlights the work of an Artist from the Adirondack Region.

As long as Wilfred Charbonneau can remember, he has had a love of art.  While carving was his first love, he  had attempted many art forms including drawing, painting, and sculpting.  It was not until he discovered the scrollsaw that he found the art form that truly peaked his artistic interest and ability.

As a career Fire Lieutenant with the Cohoes First Department, he found his work originally focused on areas of interest such as firefighting, nature and wildlife.  He is also a past member of the New York State Technical Search and Rescue Team, and his participation in efforts at the World Trade Center, he found his work at the scrollsaw turned into a wonderful outlet where he could focus on nature and wildlife--things that bring him peace, serenity and solitude, three of his favorite words.

While Wilfred likes to use unique pieces of wood in his art, his primary canvas is antler.  He works with Moose, Elk, Fallow Deer, Mule Deer, Caribou and others.  He states, "antler has a form of energy in it; they are shed every year by these beautiful creatures that come from all over the country.  The use of antler has allowed me to return to my first love, carving, where I create Eagle Sculptures and Studio Buttons.  I find I can do things with antler I could never accomplish with wood.  My goal with my art is to allow one to look into it and escape, if only for a moment, to a place they may have been or wish to be.  If I accomplish this goal then my work is a success."

Working in these areas over the past twelve years has allowed him the opportunity to meet many wonderful people in many different places.  He holds memberships in the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council,  Northeastern Woodworkers Association (Past President of the Scrollers Guild), SAW Scrollsaw Association of the World, Saratoga County Arts Council,  and  National Button Society.  He has presented seminars and taught workshops such as:   Woodcraft Scroll Saw Courses (Instructor), Northeastern Woodworkers Showcase (Seminars and Demonstration), Northeastern Woodworkers Woodworking Weekend (Scrollsaw Instructor), Cohoes High School Adult Education-Woodworking (Scrollsaw Instructor), and  Sisters of St. Joseph Provincial House Wood Shop (Scrollsaw Instructor).

Wilfred has won numerous prizes and awards for his work:  2002 1st Place Creative Woodworks & Crafts 9/11 Relief Scrolling Contest, 2004 Scrollsaw Association of the World EXPO Pennsylvania Sponsored by SAW, Creative Woodworks & Crafts Magazine and Scrollsaw Workshop Magazine, Best In Show, First Place Open Complex, First Place Complex, and Award of Merit Recipient.  He has participated in numerous exhibitions as well:   Mayfest-Bennington Vermont, Lake George Forum Art and Craft Festival, Adirondack Living Show--Lake George, LARAC Lapham Gallery Member Exhibition, Lapham Gallery Juried Exhibition:  Adirondack State of Mind, and Troy Shirt Factory Art Show and Open House in Glens Falls.

You can find his work at Adirondack Rustic Furniture in Schroon Lake, NY; Adirondack Pack Basket in  Warrensburg, NY; Gateway Gallery in Corinth, NY; and  Sacandaga Rustic Designs on Sacandago Lake in the town of Day, NY.