Nearly 37 years ago, in 1983, I picked up a block of wood and began to carving in utter anonymity in my basement workshop. Like anything that is practiced and repeated often enough, woodcarving became something very natural for me to do.
Then came a day in 1996 when I saw a big red “X” on a sycamore tree in Vander Veer Park, Davenport, Iowa. One thing led to another and by August 1997, I had carved a 14 foot tall sand hill crane, entitled “Majestic Hope”.
The entire experience in full public view took on a life of its own. Not too long after, I began “Majestic Hope Enterprises” doing carvings from trees in and around the Quad-Cities area. The woodcarving business grew to a point that I eventually retired from my full-time teaching position in the Davenport Community School District. It had become too difficult to maintain any DCSD responsibilities and carve 30+ hours per week.
Over the past 37 years I’ve met many wonderful people and have had opportunities to create many carvings. This website is meant to share with you some of the carvings that are mostly throughout Iowa and Illinois, as well as throughout the United States and beyond.
Please take time and enjoy.
Thom Gleich