MARK
McFARLAND
COLLECTION
Back in 1999, a man entered our Nevada store
and offered to carve us any pieces we would like, out of fossil walrus
ivory and dark green serpentine stone. We told him to carve
whatever he wishes, and we would choose. WELL, he carved, and we
BOUGHT THEM ALL.
He described himself as originally being a
roofer and a jack of all trades handyman. A carver named Andre
Pomeroy (carving artist for 25 years of Anchorage Alaska, specializing in
bear carvings) took him under
his wing when he was in Alaska, and taught him how to carve using fossil
ivory and Washington State stone. Mark lived with him for six
months He
carved a limited number of marine mammal pieces before he left Alaska
(that are still found in 2 galleries in Anchorage) and found his way
to Nevada. At that time, he had been carving for two years. He
indicated he was going back to Alaska for a refresher course in sculpting
land animals.
When we traveled to Alaska in 2006, we entered
one of the bigger Alaskan carvings stores and found several of his
pieces. We inquired of Mark's whereabouts, and were dismayed to
learn that he had passed away from an unexpected severe illness that
lasted just 3 days before his death. We estimated he was under the
age of 40 at the time, a premature demise of a wonderful artist for whom
we grieve.
So here are the 6 pieces we purchased from
him, that are all the more dear now that we know he is gone. All are
etched with his "Mark" signature.