How To Carve Totem Poles - Paul N. Luvera Sr.
Last modified on 2008-02-21 20:11:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
This book was written by my Nonno (grandfather), an Italian immigrant. He was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1898. An immigrant at the age of eleven. A grocery store owner, Washington State Senator and Totem Pole Carver.
After retiring from the grocery business in 1952, Paul N. Luvera Sr. taught himself how to carve totem poles. My Nonna (grandmother) painted them. The totems are proudly displayed in public parks and private yards all over the world. His totems have been shipped to many buyers in the US, Japan, Sweden, Holland and Canada.
The original printing of the book was in 1977. After dozens of rejection letters from publishers across the country, Nonno spent their life savings self-publishing the book. Five thousand copies of the book were printed and shipped directly to his home. In 1990, at the time of his death, the book was in it’s seventh printing. It is still available, currently in it’s eleventh printing.
“How To Carve Totem Poles” is full of beautiful color photos showing step by step illustrations along with plain english explanations on how to carve a totem pole. It is a rare and unique training guide for all would be carvers.
This book can be purchased online by clicking this link or by contacting my Aunt, Phyllis Ennes. Her email is ennespl@comcast.net
The Turk - Tom Standage
Last modified on 2008-02-22 15:08:17 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
My dad, Paul Luvera Jr. sent this book to me. I really enjoyed the easy reading style and well written story.
Wolfgang von Kemplen was an 18th century Hungarian nobleman who created an automated chess playing machine made of wood, gears and clock work. Traveling Europe and America for 85 years, Kemplen demonstrated his chess playing automa entertaining audiences including members of royalty, heads of state, and common folk.
The author Thomas Standage describes the books premise as a “historical precursor of modern science and technological breakthrough”. It is a well crafted story depicting early adaption and evolution of original artificial intelligence despite the skepticism and scrutiny of many critics who believed that the machine was a hoax.
What I found particularly interesting and entertaining were references to the development of parallel technologies of the industrial revolution woven into the background of the story. For example, steamships, submarines, cotton gins, bifocal lenses, small pox vacination and photography to name a few.
Here is an image depiction of “The Turk”
This book can be purchased online by clicking here.
