Totem poles pop up all over town

Joe Fortner begins carving one of his totem poles.

They stand tall and silent, imposing sentinels over the driveways, the nine totems created by local carpenter Joe Fortner.

Three stand at local businesses, while three others grace the yards of local homes. The remainder stand in other communities -- New Meadows, McCall, and one has even found its way to New Mexico, where it resides next to the home of Joe's brother.

The craftsman is quick to point out that carving the totems is a hobby and he does not make them to sell, preferring instead to trade his creations with friends.

Fortner explains he created his first totem five years ago because it was something he had always wanted to do.

"I had this log and I thought it would be ideal for a totem, so I went to work on it. But what I ended up with was just so much firewood," he said. Although disappointed in his first effort, he still had the desire and the determination and after seeing the chainsaw carving by Jim Haydon, Fortner decided to ask for a lesson.

"I got a couple more logs and told Jim I would give him one if he would teach me how to carve. Jim and I stood here looking at this log and Jim asked me. 'What's your vision?' Well, I really had no idea what he was talking about, until he explained that before I started carving, I needed to be able to see in my mind -- a vision, so to speak -- what the completed carving should look like. So, I guess that was my first lesson, to find my vision."

He sketched out his ideas and then with Jim's guidance, he set to work once more. The large log was stripped of its bark and carefully measured for its length and its width. "That helps you determine the size of each carving. Otherwise you might end up with long skinny faces or maybe short fat ones." Once he decides which side will be the front of the totem, he cuts a kerf down the center of the entire log. That will help him keep the totem carvings properly aligned. Then the actual carving begins. The first cuts are made with large saws, with the finer details being created with smaller hand tools.

Each totem character tells a story, Fortner explains. The Thunderbird Falcon, with outstretched wings, normally resides at the top of the totem, symbolizing high ideals. But the newest totem he is working on will feature Pegasus flying at the top of the pole.

The number of characters for the totems may vary as well as which will be featured on the pole.

Most, if not all, of Fortner's totems feature a beaver. The beaver symbolizes architecture and construction, "and he always carries a stick. I like that," said Fortner. "I guess that is the carpenter in me."

Other frequent characters Fortner includes are the bear (self-reliant), the otter (fun loving and playful), the frog (adaptability), the salmon (symbolizing wealth), the turtle (methodical and practical), the wolf (sacred) and the snake with its special powers.

Once the carving is complete, the totem is stained and then sealed before it can be erected in its new home.

Totems are traditionally carved from cedar, Fortner explains. It is a strong wood with a good straight grain and can be set directly in the ground without fear of it rotting. But, unfortunately, he points out, there is little cedar to be found growing naturally in this area. So instead he chooses to work with pine or fir. Because the wood he uses will decay under the earth, he pours a concrete foundation beneath each pole .

The craftsman said he usually completes two totems a year, working on them during summer evenings and on weekends. "It is a hobby after all, and as much as I enjoy it, I don't want to spend all my time on it." But if you drive by his home on W. 36th South Street, you may see him out in the yard creating yet another totem.

Completed totems can be seen at Cox Autobody, at John's Feed and at A-Z Lumber and Hardware.