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HILLHOUSE ORIGINALS
Woodcarvings by Arne Bortnem
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CARICATURES AND HUMAN PORTRAITS
Inspired by the sculptures of Korzak Ziolkowski and the beautiful faces carved in Black Hills cedar by my mentor Kenny Anderson, I have endeavored to learn the art of caricature carving and creating recognizable portraits of real people. Several of my portraits were commissions to be presented to the subject in honor of his retirement or some special anniversary. Others were simply to express my own admiration of a particular person who made an impression on me.
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"There is a Better Way...
 While sharpening his scythe, my Great, Great, Grandpa Nils pauses for a moment to ponder the possibility of building a mechanical grain harvester (reaper).
According to Our Nordic Heritage, a family history written by Mervin Langum, grandson of Nils, "Nils Langum invented and had patented the first grain harvester. He was offered $18,000 for the patent, but declined, hoping for a better offer. In the meantime the McCormick harvester came out with a similar model with modifications that ended his chance of a lifetime."
The carving entitled, "There is a Better Way," won a first place in the 2015 National Folk Art Exhibition held at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, IA.
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 SPIRIT HELPER
This 4.5 ft section of a black walnut tree was originally intended to be a portrait of Oglala Medicine Man, Pete Catches, whose spirit helper was the Red Tailed Hawk.
(SOLD)
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 OLIVE
Carved from a piece of Russian Olive rescued from a pile of firewood.
(SOLD)
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 VISION
Carved in Black Hills Cedar
FOR SALE
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 OLD WOMAN AND DOG
Carved in Black Hills Cedar
FOR SALE
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