Welcome:
MEET EDGAR
Woodcarving has always been an integral part of my life journey that began when I was working to become an Eagle Scout in pursuit of a Wood Carving Merit Badge. Over the years, my wood carving skills have gone through a metamorphosis changing from a neophyte to a professional woodcarver.
Carving to create images from various types of wood has been a source of inspiration for me by allowing the character of the wood, such as Maple, Walnut, Willow, and other types, to reveal a particular image. Many of my wood carving images were inspired by my travels to Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
My particular interest in bark carving began many years ago in Estes Park, Colorado during a Cottonwood Bark Carving Class under the direction of Garth Lewis at the Eagle Rock School. Garth’s enthusiasm for teaching bark carving inspired the educator in me and the inspiration to create my own Cottonwood Bark Carving Collection.
The joy of bark carving also inspired me to start conducting Cottonwood Bark Carving sessions with various people, including my teenage step-grandson (Hunter) whom I taught to carve. Moving forward, I envision sharing my gift and skills with others (youth and adults) as well as exhibiting my artwork at national galleries and museums.
I have enjoyed carving images to share as personal gifts to family and friends, especially to my wife, Barbara Jean, of 56 years. As shown on this website, I carved an anniversary gift entitled R&R Creation for Barbara Jean in preparation of our rendezvous in Hawaii while serving in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in June 1970.
My artwork has been displayed at several colleges and universities (i.e. St. Joseph’s University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University and Penn State University), as well as the Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan, KISH Bank in State College, Pennsylvania and the ELK Creek Cafe’ in Millheim, Pennsylvania.
My artwork has also been displayed internationally in Cuenca, Ecuador (photographed below) while I was a Kellogg National Fellow, Group VI. I am honored to be a graduate of Norfolk State University (B), Hampton University (M) and Penn State University (D) respectively.
I am a member of the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, and exhibitor for the upcoming Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College PA, this summer (2024). Thank you for taking the time to view my woodcarving images.
To talk more about wood carving or having me visit to teach a carving workshop email me at eif1@psu.edu.
Edgar I. Farmer in Cuenca, Ecuador
From the Artist:
“We lived in the South. My father, Private Bruce Farmer, Sr., was a World War II Army Veteran from Stoney Creek, Virginia and later, a shipyard laborer; my mother, Rosetta, was a domestic worker. Both of my parents had little education, but were profoundly intelligent in raising a family of 10 children (six girls and four boys). I was their sixth child, born in the Fall of September, 1945. We lived in a segregated neighborhood called Newsome Park in Newport News, Virginia; home of the nation’s largest Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Unemployment was very low and life was good – so it seemed.”
In May of 1967, at the tender age of 21, I got enough courage to ask Barbara’s dad, Mr. John McKinley Wilson, for permission to marry his daughter. According to protocol, I did not ask her mother, Mrs. Rebecca Young Wilson, but in reflection, I should have asked her too. We got married at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church on June 16, 1968. Now, 56 years later, I am still in love with my Barbara Jean. It has been an amazing journey.”
BIO
Dr. Edgar I. Farmer is Professor Emeritus at Penn State University (PSU) and former Chair Professor in the Department of Industrial Education at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). He is the past Department Head of Learning and Performance Systems at PSU and a former Director of Graduate Programs at North Carolina State University, Raleigh. He has been married to Dr. Barbara W. Farmer for 56 years and they have three adult children, Edgar Jr., Eric Ian, and Rebecca, and three granddaughters, Kalan, Kieryn, and Logan.
Dr. Farmer was drafted into the United States Army and served honorably as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Republic of South Vietnam as a NCO (E5). During his two-year military obligation, he was awarded the Outstanding Basic Trainee plague, Outstanding Leaders of Airborne Class #16 (Iron Mike), Fort Benning, Georgia; Vietnam Combat Service ribbon, Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star for meritorious service. He is also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education and Technology from Norfolk State College in January 1969 as well as the Outstanding Student Teaching Award during the Fall semester of 1968. He earned a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision at Hampton University while teaching Industrial Education programs as a vocational education teacher in the Hampton City School District, Hampton, Virginia. He earned his doctorate in vocational Industrial education at Penn State University. In addition, he earned a certificate from Oxford University, Saint Anthony College, UK.