Mark Bair to teach old salt figure carving class at Tuckerton Seaport

Photo via Mark Bair
Bair has been creating wood
carvings for the past 10 years.

Local award-winning carver and artist Mark Bair will lead an old salt figure carving class at Tuckerton Seaport on two Saturdays, Sept. 7 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting with a wood blank, Bair will teach participants how to fashion a decorative folk art sea captain.

“We always get a lot of requests for the folk carving,” said Linda Salmons, director of programs at the Seaport. “Decoys are wonderful and beautiful, but they do have a more limited audience. So it’s nice to have the figures because people like to have a decorative folk art figure.”

Carving and painting will begin on Sept. 7 and will conclude on Sept. 14. All experience levels are welcome.

“Some of the people who come to the class are experienced, and others are pretty much beginners that are learning the techniques of figure carving,” said Salmons.

Preregistration for the class is required and costs $110 for nonmembers or $95 for members. Fees include participation in both classes and incorporate all materials.

Bair will also teach a Santa figure carving class in November.

“His figures are very much in demand. We have some beautiful pieces here at the Seaport that we bring out on special occasions of his,” said Salmons.

To register, or for more information, call the Seaport at 609-296-8868.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.