THUNDER BAY -- After being forced into early retirement Marcel Tardif knew the only other option was to make the best of the situation.
More than one year ago, woodworking hobbyist Tardif, was forced into an early retirement due to back problems, which had made work intolerable.
Tardif believed that while recuperating from therapy he would use his time to transform wood into works of art.
“They turned out so beautiful, and I kept going,” Tardiff said during the Artisans Northwest Craft Market.
“It’s gone from a hobby to the most therapeutic, fun and relaxing thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
He creates one of a kind wooden bowls, platers, Charcuterie and Tapas boards, with wood mixes from Brazil, Africa, Mexico, Asia and Panama, ensuring that the wood used in his creations are not endangered, but are sustainable.
There are some woods that are used for more hand carving pieces, whereas other woods can be turned in a machine.
The woodcarving master himself prefers slightly exotic to exotic wood, such as Banksia Seed Pods, Ebony wood, and Tigerwood.
Tardiff said it’s surprising to see how much character and personality a piece of wood could obtain.
“We have gone away from natural woods and products to all this mass produced stuff that doesn’t have any character or feel to it,” he said.
“This has its own personality if you want to go that deep into it. It’s beautiful to see a raw piece of wood come into something that, you know, every time it’s something to cherish.”
He added that woodworking helps release his creativity, but customers help with some ideas as well.
“That’s the best part is that my woodworking is a shared process.”
Since 1975, the Artisans Northwest Craft Market has been providing Thunder Bay with work and displays of the highest quality art and fine craft.
President Eugene Vandal said the artists are constantly coming up with new ideas to keep the show the show different each year.
“This is the biggest fine art and craft show in Thunder Bay, and we are proud to have such quality items” Vandal said.
Vandal added that the market has more than 80 craft booths being showcased, which include woodworkers, artists, and jewelers.
He expects to see more than 4,000 people walking through the Valhalla Inn over the course of the weekend.
“People look forward to this craft sale every year.”
