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Cliff Mire, Wood Carver and Cajun Craftsman
This photo of cliff was taken before he shaved off his beard. The image is the front of the brochure that Jackie Mire put together for Cliff. Notice the official State of Louisiana seal at the bottom that says: Handmade by Louisiana Craftsman. The text that follows is from the brochure
Cliff was born and raised in the small town of St. Martinville, Louisiana. St. Martinville is located in the heart of "Cajun Country." Cliff is of French descent and speaks French.
He began wood carving in 1974. He is self taught having had no formal instruciton in carving. His primary tools are inexpensive wood carving knives and sand paper. His favorite wood for carving is virgin Cypress he and his son harvest from the Atchafalaya Swamp. the Atchafalaya Swamp is the second largest fresh water swamp in the world.
At the turn of the century outside interests came in and clear cut most of the giant cypress trees in the swamp. Today the Atchafalaya is a protected wetland and therefore no living tree may be cut. The cypress that cliff and his son are taking from the swamp is from the stumps that were left from that initial harvest. They also collect pieces of cypress driftwood that have broken off from the stumps.
The first thing Cliff carved when he began carving was wood jewelry. He next tried his hand at carving ducks and fish. His carvings range in size from miniatures to life size duck decoys.
About ten years ago, as a diversion from his carving Cliff started to make boxes from Cypress and other Louisiana Woods. Some of the boxes he makes are simple but functional, others are decorative and some are music boxes.
Over the years Cliff has used Magnolia, Pecan, Cedar, Hackberry and Oak for his carvings and boxes. Each carving and box Cliff makes is one of a kind. There can never be another one exactly like it.
Cliff's carvings have been accepted by the Louisiana State Arts Council entitling him to display the "Handmade by Louisiana Craftsmen" emblem on his work. Cliff's work has been purchased as gifts and sent all over the world.
Spalting: The top of the box you see to the left is crafted of spalted wood. Spalting is the result of fungus invading wood. Spalting occurs naturally in nature. Cliff creates the right environment in his back yard for the spalting process to take place. He places freshly cut wood in a damp shady area. Different tyhpes of fungus attack the wood. As the fungi approach each other one can sense the presence of the other. They fight over territory and each group of fungi secretes chemicals to mark their territory. This is similar to scent marking in animals. The secretions cause the discoloration you see in the wood. Cliff spalts hackberry, magnolia, sycamore, oak, pecan and willow. All these woods are Louisiana woods. Most wood will take from 6 to 8 months to spalt while becan can take a year or more. The wood then needs 3 to 4 months to dry and cure. After the wood is dried the spalting process ends and the fungi die. Fungus cannot live without moisture.
What figures do you see in this spalted wood?
Psychologists could probably tell a lot about your personality by your answer.
Atchafalaya Swamp Cypress Driftwood
Cliff uses cypress dirftwood he collects from the Atchafalaya Swamp for his one of a kind carvings and handmade boxes.
Cliff collects the dirftwood that is floating and also pieces that have broken off of the stumps of cypress trees that were harvested around the turn of the century. The pieces of cypress Cliff collects from the swamp are virgin cypress. The beautiful grain and colors of the cypress are why Cliff chooses it for many of his carvings and handmade boxes. All of Cliff's pieces are one of a kind. There will never be another piece just alike.