Don carving for a living

By KELVIN JOE
DON Yaman did not look back when he left school after Grade Six to work with and learn from his father the art of wood carving.
That was 34 years ago. Now Don considers himself a master of it.
Don hails from Tanbunum, Angoram, East Sepik. He is married to Zerolyn from a nearby village. They have four children.
Don and his family live at Vemauri, Kairuku-Hiri, Central. He engages in arts and crafts to put food on the table, pay school fees and attend to family and cultural obligations.
He sells his carvings in Port Moresby.
“I carve wood while my wife makes bilum, mats, baskets and nets. We are an arts family.”
He does not regret leaving school after Grade Six to try his hand at carving. The money he earns today is enough to support his family.
“If everyone goes to school and lose interest in arts and crafts, then such traditional skills which are part of our heritage will die away.”
Don, 47, does not need a pen, paper, ruler, images or measurements when carving something requested by a client.
“Just name me anything and I’ll have it done for you.”
For example, during the Melanesian Festival in 2015, he was provided a log, axe and his carving tools to carve a crocodile.
He did not need any pictures, markers or pencils. They are all in his mind.
“I did not use pencil or take measurements but I carved out a crocodile.”
A tourist watching him at work immediately bought the carving after he completed it.
“He was impressed with how I designed and carved out the crocodile that day.”
His father Tonny Yaman had participated in the World Expo in Brisbane, Australia in 1988 to design and display his carvings. Don had wanted then to follow his father’s footsteps and become a wood carver.
He also has customers who place orders so he carves what they want.

“ I inherited my father’s skills to carve. Carving has been part of me and my family’s lives.”

“I earn almost K1,000 fortnightly and at times more than K2,000 when the demand is high.”
He is his own boss and decides on how much he can do in a week.
“If I want to complete five carvings per week, then I will get more money. It’s all depends on commitment, effort and the materials available.”
According to Don, if he and fellow carvers sell their carvings and other handicraft on a daily basis, they could earn more. But now they depend mostly on tourists.
He hopes more young people become interested in arts and crafts to keep their tradition and heritage alive.
“They are pursuing other areas in life for a living and if they are not taught these things, we will definitely lose our identity.”
He urges the government to create an avenue for carvers like him to have a reliable source of income and at the same promote interest in art and culture.
“The Government should build a place similar to the museum and buy our carvings to sell to the tourists.”
That way, Don and his colleagues know they have a secure market.
“I inherited my father’s skills to carve. Carving has been part of my family. I will not lose interest. Carving has been part of my life since I was a boy.”