What do a “jiggin’ lady,” a Civil War style cannon, a hog house with residents, WWII airplanes, a tractor round-about and a two-foot-long mouse trap have in common? They were all imaginatively and skillfully fashioned by North Washington master craftsman, Vince Tenge. An exhibit of the pieces listed above plus other examples of Vince’s work is currently on display at the Carnegie Cultural Center through early April.
The title of the exhibit, “A Tenge Tradition” partly explains why an otherwise seemingly “normal” man goes to bed in the evening pondering the “burdensome” question, “What should I make tomorrow?” It’s in his D.N.A. Vince’s father, Edmund Tenge, was well known throughout the area for his love and skill for model making. (One of Edmund’s pieces depicting a horse drawn bobsled hauling a load of wood is on long-term loan for display at the Carnegie by his grandson, Kendall Rosauer.) Vince’s brother, Rich, is also a proficient hand craftsman. In all three cases, its not just the quantity of their output, it’s the quality of the work that makes it noteworthy.
“A Tenge Tradition” is a feast for the eyes as well as the imagination! The folks at the Carnegie also see the exhibit as an eye-opener to the fact that Chickasaw County has it’s share of creative, fascinating, talented and unique individuals!
