One Man's Museum: His Carvings Tell Stories

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1, Page #22

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The Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings is alive with art, including wood and metal sculptures that twist, turn, dance and hammer.
  There’s the piece with three tom turkeys fighting over a “pretty hen.” Then there’s the hillbilly protecting the still, watching for revenuers. His eyes bug out every time he sees the lovely lady stirring the mash.
  All the works come from the mind and hands of Paul Boyer. At 80, the Belleville, Kan., folk artist still creates despite a series of health issues including the loss of a leg and an aneurism that nearly took his other leg.
  “We have over 65 displays,” says Boyer’s daughter, Ann Lewellyn, who volunteers with her sister, Candy Sanford, to run the museum from May to September and by appointment. “Candy and I grew up with this, but we still notice new things all the time.”
  The pieces, usually no bigger than a couple of feet across, have a wooden scene on top and a glass case below showing the handmade gears in the mechanism that brings the scene alive – like the roofer putting on an outhouse roof, or an intricate wire maze that bounces bearings onto six drums. Visitors push a button to activate the scene.
  “I love the calliope,” Lewellyn says. “It’s extra special because it’s dad’s favorite piece. Mom was a wonderful musician, and dad worried about tuning it right, and she helped on that.”
  Boyer was inspired by his father who carved a propeller for a wind charger for electricity for their home – the first in the county to have electricity. The propeller is in the museum, as is Boyer’s first animated piece he made when he was 12 – a farm scene with musicians and chickens that ran off the updraft from the wood stove.
  There are pieces for everyone: a Rumely oil-pull tractor and thresher, head-butting goats, dancing Indians and dueling piano ladies. The museum is housed in a former ice cream factory that Boyer’s brother purchased in the 90’s.
  “It’s just a joy,” Lewellyn says, to have people come and see her father’s work. Boyer comes to the museum occasionally to oil and check out his pieces. He works on new pieces also.
  The museum is open by appointment year round, and 1-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday between May and September. Cost is $5/adults, $2/children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. All the money is used to maintain the museum.
  Plan to spend at least an hour, Lewellyn suggests. Some visitors spend up to 4 hrs. checking out the details in Boyer’s carvings and clever mechanisms.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings, 1205 M. Street, Belleville, Kan. 66935 (ph 785 527-5884).

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One Man s Museum: His Carvings Tell Stories AG WORLD The Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings is alive with art including wood and metal sculptures that twist turn dance and hammer There’s the piece with three tom turkeys fighting over a “pretty hen ” Then there’s the hillbilly protecting the still watching for revenuers His eyes bug out every time he sees the lovely lady stirring the mash All the works come from the mind and hands of Paul Boyer At 80 the Belleville Kan folk artist still creates despite a series of health issues including the loss of a leg and an aneurism that nearly took his other leg “We have over 65 displays ” says Boyer’s daughter Ann Lewellyn who volunteers with her sister Candy Sanford to run the museum from May to September and by appointment “Candy and I grew up with this but we still notice new things all the time ” The pieces usually no bigger than a couple of feet across have a wooden scene on top and a glass case below showing the handmade gears in the mechanism that brings the scene alive – like the roofer putting on an outhouse roof or an intricate wire maze that bounces bearings onto six drums Visitors push a button to activate the scene “I love the calliope ” Lewellyn says “It’s extra special because it’s dad’s favorite piece Mom was a wonderful musician and dad worried about tuning it right and she helped on that ” Boyer was inspired by his father who carved a propeller for a wind charger for electricity for their home – the first in the county to have electricity The propeller is in the museum as is Boyer’s first animated piece he made when he was 12 – a farm scene with musicians and chickens that ran off the updraft from the wood stove There are pieces for everyone: a Rumely oil-pull tractor and thresher head-butting goats dancing Indians and dueling piano ladies The museum is housed in a former ice cream factory that Boyer’s brother purchased in the 90’s “It’s just a joy ” Lewellyn says to have people come and see her father’s work Boyer comes to the museum occasionally to oil and check out his pieces He works on new pieces also The museum is open by appointment year round and 1-5 p m Wednesday-Saturday between May and September Cost is $5/adults $2/children 6-12 and free for children 5 and under All the money is used to maintain the museum Plan to spend at least an hour Lewellyn suggests Some visitors spend up to 4 hrs checking out the details in Boyer’s carvings and clever mechanisms Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings 1205 M Street Belleville Kan 66935 ph 785 527-5884

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