CRESTVIEW — A mayoral commission to produce a presentation vase for Crestview's sister city has revealed secrets inside an old log.
When Mayor David Cadle asked wood artisan Dannis Young to create a gift commemorating Crestview's 20-year partnership with Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, France, Young saw an opportunity to use a log stashed behind his Crestview home.
He knew nothing of the tree's background, except that honey locust produces a soft, golden glow when he applies his chisels while the wood turns on his lathe. "Locust wood almost has a fingerprint in it," he said. "It has signatures."
While hollowing out the vase's bowl, he found evidence of a lightning strike. About 20 years ago, lightning struck the honey locust. The tree survived, but the strike's result added the marks to the wood. "You could scrape it with your fingernail and smell a charred smell to it," Young said.
Young, who's turned wood since he was introduced to the craft in high school in his native Meridian, Miss., said the vase became more than he planned. "I think it'll be one thing, but when you start turning, the wood starts telling you what it wants to be," he said. "The wood talks to you."
Young finished the vase with beeswax, which added a soft luster to the honey locust wood's golden glow. "I like to use all-natural materials," he said. "I don't like to use chemicals because you never know who will come in contact with it and how it might affect them."
After applying polish, Young let the vase sit in various locations for a week, ensuring it wouldn't crack under different temperatures and humidity levels.
Cadle, whose representative will present the gift May 9 to Noirmoutier officials, said, "I am just so very pleased with this.
"It's great our gift to our Sister City is something directly from the Crestview area, made by a Crestview artist."
WANT TO GO?
Crestview wood artisan Dannis Young will exhibit turned bowls, vases, goblets and other materials made from locally sourced wood at the Laurel Hill Arts and Heritage Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25, at 8115 Fourth St.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview craftsman's vase reveals hidden surprise