Inside the workshop on his farm near Walkerton, Ind., Steven Murray creates pieces of architectural art — such as crown moldings of wood and fireplace fixtures of bronze — the old-fashioned way: by hand.
“I don’t have any power tools. I have a mallet and a chisel, and I carve it out,” he explained. “That’s how it was done 200 years ago.”
Murraywood Architectural Carving is one of the more than 150 stops along the Art & Earth Trail, a bountiful blend of galleries, studios, markets and more created this year by the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission.
“We wanted to put a fresh face on the product offerings to make northern Indiana a more compelling place to visit,” said Dan Bearss, the commission’s executive director.
“Northern Indiana definitely has a strength in the art segment but also has very unique offerings in agritourism, so that’s why we married art and earth together.”
Beginning on the outskirts of the Chicago area near Portage, the trail is made up of seven easy-to-drive loops that progress eastward across several counties stretching almost to the Ohio state line. It’s an area in need of an economic boost following significant layoffs at major employers such as RV manufacturers.
“The timing of when we came out (with the trail) was perfect, because it was a time when this economy really has hit an all-time low here,” Bearss said.
While many of the offerings, such as galleries, shops and bed-and-breakfasts, are open year round, others are seasonal. As Christmas approached, holiday tours began, and tree farms welcomed saw-toting visitors.
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This year’s premiere edition of the Art & Earth Trail guide is available free through artandearthtrail.com or by calling 574-862-1434. A 2011 guide featuring even more vendors will be available in March.
Carver Steven Murray (574-586-2986) demonstrates his time-honored trade Wednesday through Sunday afternoons. As he tells visitors, crafting things by hand ensures they’ll be around for a long, long time.
“All of my works come with a 5,000-year guarantee,” he joked.
— J.J.