FARO FANNIN - START

FARO FANNIN - START

December 15, 2000

Dennis Campbell, President of the Grand Slam Club and General Editor of the publication Grand Slam, gave me a call last spring to commission a carving for the FNAWS 2001 Convention in Reno. The carving would serve as the Club's art contribution to the FNAWS/GSC auction. The Convention is to be held at the Reno Hilton, February 14-17, 2001. The auction for this piece will be on the evening of Friday 16. Monies raised by the annual auction go toward wild sheep conservation and habitat enhancement.

Honoured by the request and mindful of the work that FNAWS has already done in the Faro area for the Fanin Sheep, I agreed to the take on the commission.

The subject of the carving will be the Fannin Sheep itself. Set in its natural surrounding of aspen, burned pine logs and stumps and with a spectacular vista of the Faro area, the sheep looks for winter browse and watches for danger. The model for the carving is taken from a series of images recorded by Frank Nice a few years ago in the hills above Faro.

The Fannin Sheep are a rare breed of wild sheep whose origins are still a matter for debate. Some believe that they are a combination of Dall and Stone Sheep, others, that they are a distinct species. My understanding is that the question is being determineded genetically. Whatever the origin, they are certainly unique and the only known accessible grouping of these animals in the world is near Faro, Yukon.

Dennis Campbell, in the Fall 2000 issue of Grand Slam tells a little about the antler used for the carving:

"The carving is executed on a large single moose antler palm. The bull was over 60 inches and taken during a special permitted winter hunt near Haines Junction, Yukon, by Rick Dekuysscher of Whitehorse. Rick has donated the antler forthis carving. Since the bull was taken late in the season, near the time for casting the antlers, amazingly this palm broke away from the skull cleanly, just as if it had been shed. Shane will be preserving that aspect of the burr."

Thanks Rick!

Now on to the design and carving!

Till next time,

Shane

back