Dick’s family are long-time residents of British Columbia. In fact, his grandmother was born here in the 1880s. Dick remembers his mother commenting on how multicultural Vancouver was before the Second World War, and how many Japanese Canadians she was accustomed to seeing when taking the bus or walking around town. Then suddenly, in the middle of the war, all Japanese Canadians vanished. Dick remembers learning nothing in grade school about the Japanese Canadian internment. It wasn’t until he studied geography at university that he became aware of this dark episode in Canadian history.
Artist Profile: Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin — woodcarver, neighbour, and retired teacher and social worker — has lived with his wife, Barbara Vanderburgh, and their family across the lane from Historic Joy Kogawa House for more than 30 years. From his backyard, Dick can see the Kogawa cherry tree and enjoy its beautiful white blossoms every spring.
Dick’s family are long-time residents of British Columbia. In fact, his grandmother was born here in the 1880s. Dick remembers his mother commenting on how multicultural Vancouver was before the Second World War, and how many Japanese Canadians she was accustomed to seeing when taking the bus or walking around town. Then suddenly, in the middle of the war, all Japanese Canadians vanished. Dick remembers learning nothing in grade school about the Japanese Canadian internment. It wasn’t until he studied geography at university that he became aware of this dark episode in Canadian history.
It was Dick’s daughter, Elizabeth, who first noticed a large branch of the cherry tree had come down in a January windstorm and was blocking the laneway. Dick called Ann-Marie Metten, who in turn called the City, and Urban Forestry staff came to set up pylons and divert traffic around the downed branch. The next morning, a City arborist arrived with a chainsaw to cut the broken branch into large pieces. Dick selected a few to use for woodcarving.
Perhaps other wood artists might be offered other parts of the fallen branch? he suggested, and a call went round on social media. TV news crews called in to help spread the word. The response was immediate and so enthusiastic that one afternoon Dick heard the sound of a chainsaw buzzing in the lane and came out to investigate. Not only was someone cutting up more sections of the downed branch, but they were using his chainsaw.
Soon wood from the fallen branch was in the hands of several artists. Dick suggested that a show-and-tell be organized to showcase the various artists and their creations. That event is scheduled for later this summer.
Meanwhile, Dick is planning to carve wooden spoons from his pieces of the cherry tree.
This is an exciting project, and we have Dick to thank for coming up with the original idea!
Carved spoons by Dick Griffin.
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