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Tree trunk takes shape as the Twin Towers |
Dover artist carving totem pole in memory of events on Spet. 11BY ELSIE WALKERSPECIAL TO DOVER PLUS |
 Sculptor Hudson Favell takes a measurement on his commemorative sculpture of the Twin Towers. |
About six weeks ago it was a 9-foot section of tree trunk weighing about 1,000 pounds. Slowly, wood was cut away and lines were drawn. Then the painstaking job of carving began. The result is a replica of the Twin Towers, a totem Pole piece created in memory of the events of Sept. 11. This is the work of Dover artist Hudson Favell. Favell's work is being sponsored by Dover Renaissance, and he said he hopes to have it displayed on the Blackwell Street triangle. |
 Hudson Favell takes a measurement on his commemorative sculpture of the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The sculpture has been carved out of a huge log that was given to Favell from a resident of Montville. |
If one drives into Dover through Blackwell Street or has visited the courthouse, one may have seen some of Favell's other works. A Story pole with painted carvings representing some of Dover's organizations and history sits on land across from the Presbyterian church onBlackwell Street. Favell also carved the seal of Dover, which hangs in the courthouse. In 1996, Joan Bocchino, president of the Dover Renaissance, nominated Favell for a volunteerism award for his story pole carving. That year, 355 people from all over New Jersey were nominated. Volunteer award Favell was selected, and Gov. Christie Whitman presented him with a volunteer award in the arts. Favell then presented Whitman with a plaque he made with a carving of a horse on it because Whitman is a horse lover. Now Favell is tackling the Twin Towers project. The log from which he is creating the Twin Towers was part of a 100-foot tree in Montville. The owner built a tennis court on his Property and had the tree cut down. His wife had heard that Favell created totem Poles and offered the tree to him. It was cut into four sections and brought to Favll's home in Dover. Currently, Favell is using a vacant store in the Rockaway Boro Plaza as the work area for the project. "I've been working on this Particular piece since before Christmas. I've been down here about every day for six weeks," Favell says. Favell works seven to eight hours per day on the project. Transforming a huge log into the Twin Towers is a long process that starts with establishing the image that the artist wants to recreate. "I just look through all the pictures I can find," Faveil says. On a worktable, he has a variety of publications with pictures of the Twin Towers. Next, he needed to get the log into shape. He began by using a chain saw to get rid of some bulk. Then he smoothed it down with a variety of chisels. Favell established straight lines, which needed to be carved out. For the more intricate work, the tops and bottoms of the towers, he made a template and used that when carving. The log had a base added to it that is reinforced by a steel belt. Favell said that without the reinforcement, the work would break apart, since there are some cracks in the base of the log. At the top, a wooden wheel has been attached. This helps move the log around for most carving. However, the wheel must be removed when Favell carves the intricate work on the top. A hydraulic jack is used to keep the log up during the process. In addition to carving and painting the piece, there are some other finishing touches. The work will have a piece at the top reinforced with steel, which will hold the towers together. Dover Alderman James Dodd is getting the piece of steel from the remains of the former World Trade Center Twin Towers. Favell also hopes to add lights. There will be an area at the top where a legend can be written. Favell has a list of ideas people have given to him as to the words that should be written on the to of the totem pole. Favell expects the towers to be done in the next week. Favell says that he has had a lot of support in this project. Gene Ginsberg, the owner of Boro Plaza, is letting Favell use the vacant store. Friends such as Don Donofrio come by and offer moral support. Anil Bhandari, who works at a store nearby, helps with some of the carving. Favell explained that he is right-handed and Bhandari is left-handed. For some areas of the work, having a left-handed woodcarver helps. Favell also mentioned the support of his wife, Ada Rosen. Actually, it was a suggestion from his wife that got him into wood carving 12 years ago. A family and marriage counselor, Favell had done wood-working all his life. One day he saw a picture in a newspaper about a wood carving club and decided to try it. His first project has a figure about a foot tall. His wife saw it and commented, "Why don't you make something big - like a totem pole?" Since then, Favell has done many totems; and carvings, more than he can count, he said. Some are works that are commissioned, while others have been done for family. Others, like the Twin Towers project, are done for the town. Favell also has pieces around his house. His biggest totem pole is a 41-foot totem pole carved into a tree. Included with the work are carvings that symbolize things in his life. For example, there's a boat, which stands for his service in the Navy. There's also a replica of his first car, a 1931 Plymouth. To build that monumental totem pole, Favell had to first build a scaffold so he could go up the tree. Bocchino said Favell's work is unique and beautiful. "I think he finds the'soul in something," she said. "He is a treasure." |