Intelligencer Journal from Lancaster, Pennsylvania • 1

EXTRA Published every Wednesday by Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. Lancaster, Pa. March 12, 1986 'Folk Art By Menno' Grows In Popularity Far And Wide Mary T. Petrotske "I've never had an art les- mental note that there were no Extra Correspondent son in my life," says Shirk, chickens on his display table. CHURCHTOWN A small with a sheepish smile, indicat- Shirk does no advertising farm nestled in the Conestoga ing that even he is surprised at but word of mouth has brought Valley, just south of Church- his talent not to mention the him customers faster than he town, is home to a man who has recognition it has brought him.

can handle them. loved animals all his life. He tells, how a friend called He estimates that he Menno Shirk, was born on a one day to tell him some of his spends about 10 to 12 hours a farm near Martindale "more artwork had been part of a tele- day in his shop meeting the deyears ago then I cares to vision commercial made by the mand for his art work. count," he says. Philadelphia Museum of Art.

"At one time I would come For 25 years, he raised "I had no idea my work down to the shop in the dead of small animals of every descrip- was even there," he says. night for an hour or two," he tion on his homestead, while Shirk's art is in a class by says. "But that wasn't any working at such diversified jobs itself. The ducks, pigs and other good, I had to stop doing it." as silo builder, custom butcher animals he carves and paints When he started his art and greens-keeper for a golf are life-like. His workshop is in work seven years ago, Shirk a wooden building on the farm would paint milk cans, doing EXTRA Photograph by Mary Petroieke course.

He retired several years which has been painted bright paintings of old houses and sev- Menno Shirk of Churchtown carves and paints folk art animals ago and today keeps very busy yellow. eral other forms. Now, he of all sizes. carving and painting the ani- The folk-art creatures can mainly concentrates on the mals that are in wide spread be found in shops in Texas and wooden animals with attached demand. California and 16 states in be- stands, and wall hangings.

Called Folk Art by Menno, tween. His latest projects include which gives the animals a life- happen to have on he the wooden creatures come in "People have been buying ducks, and rabbits for Easter like appearance. Feathers explains. them as fast as I can make and bullfrogs that have caught stand out and the shading is en- The most popular of his from every them. Right I don't have his customers fancy.

hanced by the carved lines. works at present is his "Covshape, size and species the smallest farm animals now, to the large beasts of the jun- much here to show," he says What makes his creations "I don't take orders, people ered Bridge' and "Farm gle. apologetically as he made a so special is the carving he does come and can buy what ever I Yard" wall hangings. Beginning June 1, women in Pennsylvania will pay the same amount for insurance as men in similar risk categories. How do you feel about men and women paying equal car insurance premiums? Ed Vare, 48 Joan Perez, 27 James Rodgers, 62 Donna Owens, 33 Bill Moore, 23 "Men are more, they "It should be equal.

I "I think (men) should, as ought to be more. I think a lot "I couldn't afford to pay "I think it's fair, I do. guess it's fair I never gave it long as they have a clear of men are more careless. any higher We're all much (driving) record." They take more chances. When I was young I used to be a little Tracking The Spartans Page 17.