Anaveta Art Studio Awards

Awards and Recognition

One man show held at Tacoma Municipal Building - December, 2009

Dale will be featured in a one man show at the Tacoma Municipal Building in the month of December. A large selection of his past and current work will be on display.

The National Arts Program® -Professional Best Sculpture - 2009 - Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Dale's Osage Bust was the best sculpture in the professional category and won 2nd place in the overall judging at the The National Arts Program® and the Tacoma Arts Commission sponsored art show. The bust will be on display at the Tacoma Public Utilities main office from June through September.

2007 Woodcarving Illustrated Santa Carving Contest - People's Choice - Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Victorian Delivery won the 2007 People's Choice award in a field of 28 finalists. We had three of our carvings make it to the final 28 from nearly 200 entries.

The National Arts Program® -Professional Best Sculpture - Friday, July 27, 2007

Dale's Iroquois Bust was the best sculpture in the professional category and won an honorable mention in the overall judging at the The National Arts Program® and the Tacoma Arts Commission sponsored art show.

2004 Better Homes and Gardens Featured Woodcarver - Friday, January 09, 2004

BHG publishes an annual coffee table book dedicated to Santa Claus art. In 2004 Dale and Tamara were featured in the book.

NWCA 20th Annual Woodcarving Show - Sunday, November 10, 2002

Puyallup – Dale and Tamara Woodards combined talent won five first place, one second place, one Best of Division and a People's Choice award at the Northwest Woodcarvers Association 20th annual wood carving show. This show is the biggest and oldest show in the Pacific Northwest with hundreds of entries. Each carving is judged on its own merit and in comparison against other entries to determine placing. Here is how we did:

All Divisions

People's Choice Award (Saturday)

Expert Class

1st place - Santa Claus
2nd place - Santa Claus
1st place - Human; full figured painted.
1st place - Clowns, gnomes.

Advanced Class

Best of Division - In-the-Round; Human
1st place - Santa Claus
1st place - Human; full figured painted.

Dale’s thoughts on competing.

Entering a juried show is always a challenge; you never know what will happen in the judging. In 2002 one of our Santa carvings won a first place ribbon, a best of division ribbon and the People’s Choice Award.

After winning those three awards I thought we would be a sure win for the special category they had for Best Santa Overall, but we lost to a carving that did not even get an honorable mention in the main event. I knew we were in trouble when I walked by the panel of judges and heard one of them say “How do we pick the best Santa.”

Even with the uncertainties of the outcome juried shows are always fun. It is a great opportunity to see other carver’s work and to meet new people and catch up with old friends.