Bucks
Leonard Marschark fundraiser for Bedminster Land Conservancy, Zakurdayev Wood Carver
Dear Friends,
Whenever I receive a note from Leonard Marchark, I pay attention. You might remember a column that I wrote about him last February. Marchark is a resident of Bedminster Township and an exquisite 18th century, tall clock maker. Tall clock is the correct name for a grandfather clock.
A few weeks ago, he and his wife hosted the second Traditional Artisan’s show at their farm. Nine artisans displayed their works in pottery, paper cutting, decorative painting, woodcarving, folk art, ceramic sculpture, traditional painted furniture, Windsor furniture, and, of course, clocks.
The event was also a fundraiser for the Bedminster Land Conservancy. Marchark told me that more than 100 attended the two-day affair and the Conservancy netted several thousand dollars. Bravo!
Marchark wanted me to meet a Russian woodcarver and his wife. “Only a few people in the world have his talents,” Marchark began. Standing in one of his farmhouse rooms were Leonid and Svetlana Zakurdayev, expatriates from Moscow. Five beautiful woodcarvings dazzled my eyes.
Marchark first met the Zakurdayevs at the Philadelphia Furniture Show more than three years ago. They admired each other’s work. “We fell in love with each other,” Svetlana laughed.
They showed me several photographs of a three dimensional, wooden statue of St. Gabriel, rescued from St. Gabriel Gentilly cathedral in New Orleans. It had been severely damaged during the Katrina Hurricane. Because St. Gabriel’s wings had been lost in transit, Leonid’s mission was to recreate wings for the statue. All he had for a reference was a two dimensional, 4 by 6 inch photograph. Thanks to Leonid’s workmanship, St. Gabriel is now restored and the story has a happy ending.
The story is also special because it involved three religions. The church is Roman Catholic; Leonid is a Russian Orthodox; and the cabinetmaker friend who volunteered to rebuild the church is Jewish. Leonid met him at several artisan shows and they became good friends.
As I studied a particularly ornate sculpture, I asked Leonid how long it takes to carve a piece? “Usually it takes a year,” he replied. “All the pieces are original, none are duplicated. I put my heart and soul into them.”
Leonid is 47; Svetlana is younger. In 1999, the Zakurdayevs visited friends in Canada. He obtained a four-month U.S. guest visa and made several woodcarvings, which he exhibited in the Wood Carvers Congress in Iowa. Leonid became an instant star, winning six blue ribbons, two red ribbons, and the first place prize for one of his pieces.
His three-page brochure is fascinating. “After noting that some of the larger high-end shows were on the East coast, the Zakurdayevs moved to Philadelphia,” it read. Leonid has a green card, which enables him to remain permanently in America, where he’s working on his U.S. citizenship. Their families continue to live in Russia.
I asked Leonid if his countrymen foresaw the disintegration of the Soviet Union? “There were not many warning signs,” he replied, “but changes were happening. For example, there was more freedom for artists to travel.”
I was curious about his use of the phrase, “Good mood.” Leonid told me that “Good mood” is a very upbeat, joyous Russian wish…like good luck or I wish you happiness. “Good mood means you will be happy, so don’t worry,” he says.
He and Svetlana are not just husband and wife, but business partners as well. She was trained as an interior designer. Leonid does the carving and major woodwork, but they both do finishing.
“It’s good to have another opinion and a fresh look,” Leonid wrote in his brochure. “I trust the advice she gives me. We are both perfectionists. Of course, that means that every project is only two steps away from a divorce,” he joked.
“I’m his muse,” Svetlana purred.
You can understand why the two-day show fascinated me.
The event was so popular that the Bedminster Land Conservancy is planning a larger venue for next year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Traditional Artisan’s Private Preview at the Upper Bucks Vo-Tech School on Ridge Road. There’s ample parking and plenty of room for additional craftsmen. We’ll just have to stay tuned.
As I bid Leonid farewell, I said, “Good mood.”
He laughed and answered, “Good mood!”
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith