Chariot 2 - Sittin' Pretty
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Carver: Anna Gablenz, Stephanie Hassard &
Max Lemermeyer
Size: 5' high x 6' long
Status: carving
Sponsor: Junior League of Edmonton
Early-on in the project, when asked what PTC chariots looked like, Bob Cherot quickly responded, "They often depicted naked ladies!" Little did he think that designer, Lauren Baker, would bite. Although her ladies are rather tastefully clad, she used as her inspiration early 20th century Vargas-type pin-up girls. Doves were added to complement the women's drapery. Lauren also drew inspiration from tattoo art. Even though PTC most often left their chariot backgrounds rather plain, Lauren turned hers into a combined ocean - sunset scene.
When Max agreed to carve the romance side of Sittin' Pretty, he surely didn't realize that he would be presented with a slab of basswood 4'4" X 5'1" and over 5 3/4" thick! Max began the daunting job by marking the details of the scroll work, in order to determine the various carving levels within. He reckoned that he should begin the carving process by carving down to the deepest level at the inside edge of the scroll, his gouges and chisels taking him within 2 ¾" of the bottom of the slab. Figuring that carving the doves would reach almost to the lowest level, Max next carved them to a depth of 2 ½", although he had never carved birds before in his life. He then completed the carving through a combination of "look and feel." Day after day, everyone marvelled, not only at the masterful job that Max was doing, but also at the thick layer of chips he was creating as he whittled away at the chariot's side.
Stephanie Hassard and Anna Gablenz, our "head" ladies, completed the relief work by carving the ladies' heads and torsos, a difficult task, even for experienced carvers.