By Jack M. Willis
Journal Correspondent

It's not every day when you're motoring down a farm-to-market back road in North Central Louisiana that you suddenly come upon an Alaskan-culture totem pole looming majestically over a grassy knoll off the side of the road. Revelation of this apparition brought queries as to its origin and reasons for its creation, which were very ably answered by Andrew Scharr, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Dugdemona Basin Woodcarvers Guild based in Jackson and Winn Parishes, and upon whose property the totem pole now resides.

The Dugdemona Basin Woodcarver's Guild was formed on a Tuesday, April 18th, 1989 by a group of individuals like-minded towards creating artistic objects out of wood, and with a desire to form an association focused in that direction. The first president suggested to the members that they all join together on a group project and suggested the carving of a facsimile of a Far North-Native American totem pole. This particular totem pole was fashioned out of a cypress log, jacked up on skids in a metal building in Jonesboro belonging to Donald Gaines, and took a year to complete.

The DBWG totem pole embodies the common features ordinarily found in most totems with a Thunderbird image on the top, followed by likenesses of a Bear, Raven and Beaver. Upon completion, the culturally correct totem pole was first erected September of 1991 at Brown's Landing on Caney Lake, with much fanfare and hoopla. Several state and local dignitaries were present with a Boy Scout Troop dressed in Indian attire participating in the dedication ceremonies.

Not long ago the new owner of the landing called a member of the Guild and wanted to know if they wanted to retrieve their totem pole since it was now lying down flat on the ground. Scharr says the pole, which had been encased in concrete, had been broken off by some means and was now about five feet shorter than its original length at creation, but is still about 25 feet tall. After some discussion a decision was reached by members to resurrect the pole on Scharr's property where it now stands as a silent sentinel.

The Dugdemona Basin Wood Carver's Guild now meets the third Thursday of every month at Barry Womack's shop located at 1515 East Main Street in Jonesboro. The main focus of each meeting, according to Scharr, is a "show and tell" segment where individual members present their latest efforts accomplished since the last meeting. Current officers of the guild are Dickie Quarles, President; Kim Brantley, Vice-President; Andrew Scharr, Secretary-Treasurer. Director-Members are Barry Womack, Bill Kelley, D.J. Daniels, Tommy Anderson, Ken Peavey and Emmett Blundell.

Wood carvers as a rule tend to be individualists or "loners", so this group's main purpose, which evolved into the DBWG, was to fraternize, share ideas and showcase the various carvings they had perfected on their own. The dues paid include coverage of entire families of the various members, with kinfolks' participation encouraged, with some wives participating.

Once a year the Guild sets up a booth complete with display tables featuring the members' creations, which are for sale at Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days just up the road from Scharr's residence, which is located on the north side of Dugdemona Bayou on Bear Creek Road in Jackson Parish.

Some of the members' finely crafted art objects are donated to raise money for groups like the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited. Recently Tommy Anderson donated a carved hoot owl to raffle off by the National Wild Turkey Federation Chapter in Ruston, and Andrew Scharr presented a Green Wing Teal decoy to the Ruston D.U. Chapter for the same purpose.

Scharr was very vocal about seeking new members and said new enrollees will be warmly welcomed by the regulars who stand ready to aid newcomers with lots of friendly carving tips and advice.

Andrew Scharr, DBWG Secretary-Treasurer can be contacted at 318-259-3172 or email address ajscharr@hotmail.com

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