New NDCA ornament named

The North Dakota Council on the Arts announces its sixth annual Special Edition Ornament which is now available for purchase.

Frank Koch of Bismarck, was commissioned by NDCA to create a one-of-a-kind, hand-carved wood ornament. Koch has been carving since 1981. He has studied the art extensively with professional woodcarvers in Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, Nebraska, Montana, Iowa, Texas and Canada. He has taught woodcarving classes for the past 28 years through the Flickertail Woodcarving Club.

Koch carves in a variety of styles and woods. His favorite style is caricature group carvings of different professions. He has demonstrated his art at various functions throughout the upper Midwest. He has had a one-man show at the Elsa-Forde Gallery and BAGA in Bismarck, has been a governor’s residence exhibitor, and active exhibitor at various art shows in the local area. A special project was the carving of the wheat design on the bedstead and desk in the guest room of the North Dakota governor’s mansion. This project was completed during the George Sinner administration. Koch earned a second place in flat plane carving at the Scandinavian Art Festival in Moorhead, Minn., in 2006.

Koch’s carvings have been on display at the National Buffalo Museum, Barnes County Museum, Harold Schafer Heritage Center, North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Von Hoffman house in Medora, and the Hjemkomst Museum. In 2011 Koch received a North Dakota Council on the Arts Traditional Art Fellowship grant to do a series of woodcarvings representing life in rural North Dakota during the 1950s. In 2002 the North Dakota Council on Arts contacted Koch to carve a bird for the White House tree. A robin carved by Koch was one of the ornaments used to decorate the White House Christmas tree. He is recognized as master carver by the NDCA and is currently working with an apprentice woodcarver.

Koch is a native North Dakotan, a Bismarck State College alum, and holds a master’s degree in chemistry from North Dakota State University. He was a professor of chemistry at Bismarck State College for 37 years and was the founder of the Gateway to Science, a children’s hands-on science center in Bismarck.

This ornament offers the opportunity to purchase a handmade Christmas decoration and/or gift, while investing in the arts across the state. Limited quantities will be available for $25 plus tax (includes gift box, shipping additional). Twelve dollars from each ornament can be used as a tax-deductible donation to the North Dakota Cultural Endowment Fund, as proceeds will benefit this fund, which was created by the state Legislature in 1979 to assist NDCA in providing artistic opportunities for citizens throughout the state of North Dakota.

To purchase a Special Edition Ornament, call 701-328-7590.

Tags: diversions, arts