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photo by Marcus Frazier
Gwen Swoveland talks about her cabinets full of hand carved statuettes her father made. Swoveland’s home is decorated with hundreds of piece made by her father and mother.
Daughter’s house filled with father's carvings
Published Monday, April 14, 2008
NATCHEZ — If it’s carved from wood and it’s in Gwen Swoveland’s house — her father probably made it.
Swoveland’s Vidalia home has become a sort of shrine for the work of her now deceased father, C.L. Sturgeon.
“I’m extremely proud of all the work he did,” she said.
And the work that Swoveland’s father did over the period of approximately a decade is amazing.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Sturgeon’s carvings fill virtually every available spot in Swoveland’s home and cover almost every imaginable subject.
In the kitchen there’s a large hand-carved bass modeled after one that Swoveland’s mother caught.
In the living room an enormous swan rests at the base of the television.
In one room of her house Swoveland has devoted an entire curio cabinet to Santa Claus Ffigurines of every shape and size, all carved by her father.
Busts of Indian’s heads occupy several corners of the home balanced by as many busts of cowboys.
Swoveland’s home has become a museum.
Perhaps what’s more amazing than the actual art is that fact that it was done after Swoveland’s father was in a serious accident that left his hands badly injured.
Swoveland said her father, a welder, was cutting the top off of an oil drum when an explosion nearly destroyed his hands.
Swoveland can still vividly remember the day her father walked in the house with his bloody hands wrapped in rags.
“He said ‘Where’s your mama she’s gotta come take me to the hospital,’” she said.
And one of Swoveland’s favorite carvings is a true testament to her father’s talent.
It’s a perfectly sculpted baseball player that stands only about one inch high.
“I don’t know how anyone could do that,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
Another of Swoveland’s favorites is a carving of her grandparent’s home.
The tiny carving is detailed even to the work shed in the back yard.
The shed looks to be only the size of a mosquito.
Carvings and other art that don the walls of Swoveland’s home not done by her father were done by another close family member — her mother, Martha.
“They both had such amazing talent,” she said. “It’s hard to believe.”
Swoveland’s mother has several pieces displayed throughout the house including one painting of a cypress swamp that Swoveland said is one of her personal favorites.
In fact Swoveland said her mother has done so many works there’s simply not room to display them all.
In addition to being great artists Swoveland said her parents were also prolific square dancers.
“They have danced all over this country,” she said. “They’re amazing.”
Comments
Posted by Choctaw (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 3:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What beautiful work your Father did! You are lucky that you got to keep so many of your Parents sculptures! I see a white ribbon in the showcase. I'm sure he took some of his pieces to shows and obviously won with them!
Truly a work of "art"! lol
I would love to see more pictures of his work! Maybe you can email them to the Democrat and they can put them in the Gallery for us to see! Thanks for sharing!
Nice story Democrat!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice carvings. A hidden artist .
Posted by itsjustme (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He had real talent. I also would love to see more pictures of his carvings.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwen I have know you many years and never knew this. I think it's wonderful,to be able to keep those beautiful memories and carvings your dad made.
Lavada
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
nice to SEE you again two.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is WOW! What a talent!
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job! Gwen, I know you are as proud of your dad's wood art as I am of my dad's hobby. Wood carving is one form of art I will never get. I'm not good with sharp objects, although I've always wanted to make small furniture. I commend anyone who could make anything out wood. That's a wonderful gift to have.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
C.L.'s loving and good heart was much more valuable than his great artistic nature. I still mourn his passing. Vidalian's not only lost a wonderfully talented artist but a truly devoted friend that would at any time, for any reason, come to your aid. May God bless and rest your weary soul my friend until we meet again. I know God welcomed you home wth open arms.
Posted by jgcole2 (anonymous) on April 14, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwen, I did not know that your family was so talented. I would love to see your display. Maybe next time when I am home.
Love you, Jackie
Posted by prouddaughter (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to thank Adam & Marcus for such a well written article & the nice photos...However, I didn't even realize I was in one of the photos til I saw it on the front page!!! I was too busy telling you two how proud I am of my parents, to notice you had taken a photo of me!
And to all that have written such beautiful comments, I thank you. Yes, our home is a virtual museum. There isn't room to display all the wonderful things they made. While dad welded - (one example--we have a working canon in our front yard that he built) & carved anything he wanted, my mom was busy experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen, planting flowers everywhere, quilting, crocheting, painting (mom not only painted oil paintings, she painted all of dad's & her own carvings - yep, she carved too!). She crocheted until she could no longer see well enough to do so. Mom's 87 & in a nursing home now, but is looking forward to coming home & putting those hands back to work!!
Looking back, I don't know how either of them found time to do the things they did, but I'm so grateful they did! What a legacy they have left to me & my family!
One more note, would drawspaintsing & destiny please let me know who you are??
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwen, did you inherit either of your parents special talents?
I agree with Choctaw send some pictures into the Democrat were we can enjoy a better view.
Posted by prouddaughter (anonymous) on April 15, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, overthehill, much to my great sorrow, I didn't. I used to enjoy working with different kinds of crafts, but not to the extent they did! Mom says I have my dad's genes though 'cause I love repairing things around the house. My husband has often told of the day he came home to find that I had not only cut a hole in a back door, I had framed & screened it..Hey, I wanted a window!!! (pretty good job, even if I do say so myself)..What he found so funny about it was the tools I used...a big old butcher knife & a hammer!!
That's the kind of thing I like doing!!!!
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on April 16, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Prouddaughter, I am certain that you don't know me. I am not from Natchez. I am from Fayette, but check your email. There you will have my name along with a nice "Hello."
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