The Phenomenon that is Uta Strelive

Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist once they grow up.

Pablo Picasso

      In the charming hamlet of Eden Mills, I had one of the singular pleasures of my life upon meeting Uta Strelive. When she opened her door and welcomed me into her home, I was greeted by the gentle strains of classical music playing softly in the background and an array of ornithological and other tomes facing me. I knew that the Muses had smiled on me today.

     Before getting down to the business which was the purpose of my visit, Uta poured me a coffee and we chatted about many things. In an instant I was taken with this vibrant artist and conversation flowed easily.

     Uta was born in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and managed to escape to the West and arrived in Canada in 1961. Through a series of events it was not long before she found herself at the University of Guelph teaching Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, a career which spanned twenty-five years.

     And it was here that an encounter with a graduate student named Pat Godin in 1981 introduced her to the world of wood carving, that unique art form that I have come to love and appreciate. Pat Godin, by the way, has gone on to become a world champion many times over, and is renowned internationally for his work.

     Wood carving has its origins in the working decoys used by hunters to assist them in putting food on the table, and since most hunters were men, it follows that carving decoys was dominated by men, and the subsequent progression to the fine art of decorative carving was in consequence predominantly a male occupation.

     I asked Uta whether she was intimidated at all about entering this world of masculine competition, and she replied, "Not for a moment!" I might say that I was not surprised by her response! She was quick to add that most men have been kind and supportive and she has experienced very little sexism. The field is still dominated by men but more women each year take up the challenge of competing in local and international competitions.

     Early on Uta took on the challenge of carving a Black-capped Chickadee, a bird very familiar to her, belonging to the same family as the Blue Tits that entranced her as a child in Europe. She was happy when someone recognized her carving as a chickadee before she painted it and this gave her the spur she needed to carry her creation a little further, and she entered it into the Sportsmen's Show in Toronto. Every element of a carving has to be created by the artist, with no natural substances permitted. Uta had gone to great lengths to perfect the foliage on her piece and had fashioned leaves out of metal with worm holes and other flaws to resemble foliage in nature. On the day of the competition she noticed that her carving had been set aside from the other entries and on inquiring as to the reason, she was told that she was not allowed to use real leaves! So realistic were they that one of the judges scraped a very small area with a knife and her carving quickly rejoined the others. She went on to win first prize! 

     As her career progressed Uta was greatly influenced by John Scheeler, an artist of great distinction who provided encouragement and expert tutelage, especially in the technique of animating a work.

     Let me now present to you a sampling of Uta's oeuvre, chosen by Uta herself as her all-time favourite pieces.

Common Tern and Herring Gull

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Eastern Meadowlark

Tufted Titmouse

     Who among us would not be thrilled to own any one of these masterpieces? This is creative genius at its best, the pinnacle of artistic talent and interpretation, perfection in execution, faithful in detail, lifelike in rendition.
     Uta is very involved with teaching and here are some of the "props" she uses to illustrate the process to her students.

     The students also have to be taught how to create the peripheral components of a work, including at different times, foliage, flowers, bark, lichens, moss etc.

     Feet are among the most challenging components of the bird and careful attention must be paid to the positioning of the toes, i.e. zygodactyl, anisodactyl, etc., with similar attention to the scaling on the legs. A bird, otherwise perfectly executed, with incorrect foot configuration, or a three-toed woodpecker with four toes would result in disqualification.

     Uta had set some of her carvings out on a table for me to examine, and I was especially taken by this rendition of a Blackburnian Warbler, a bird of which I am particularly fond.

     Everything about it is exquisite, and if you cast your eyes off to the left of the bird's bill you will see a small caterpillar, about to become food for the adult bird, or protein for hungry chicks back at the nest. It is a charming study by any reckoning.
     How about this Crested Tit, widespread in parts of Europe?

    Or this Belted Kingfisher?

   
     A Purple Gallinule is a stunningly handsome bird, encountered in the wetlands of the southern part of the continent, and found also in Central America.

    
     It goes on and on!

     Like most carvers Uta's principal medium is tupelo, but she prefers basswood if she can get it. She recounted that once she was working with a large block of tupelo and suddenly felt very itchy, and realized that the wood was full of fungus. Her face swelled up - not a pleasant experience!
     Uta completes her work using both power tools and conventional knives, employing each tool for the appropriate application, all with consummate skill.

     Her studio is impeccably clean and well organized and one can imagine the tranquility achieved by working in such an environment.

     Uta is a world class artist and she has won first place and best of show at most of the competitions she has entered including the most prestigious of all, the World Championship Woodcarving Competition in Ocean City, MD.
     You will not be surprised that her sculptures reside in the homes and boardrooms of discriminating purchasers throughout Europe and North America.
     It was an immense pleasure to meet her. She is a distinguished carver, an artist par excellence, but far more than that - a mother, a wife, an engaging conversationalist, a scientist and a citizen of the world.
     I simply have to think of an excuse to visit her again!