Mahogany is one of Belize’s most treasured resources, having played a crucial role in the country’s economic history. But for local sculptor Carl Gordon, mahogany is more than just wood—it’s a canvas for his art. In this week’s episode of Belize on Reel, we chatted with Carl to uncover the passion and craftsmanship behind his creations and to find out what has kept him inspired for forty-six years. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Stepping into the home of Belizean artist Carl Gordon feels like entering a museum. Every inch, from floor to ceiling, is adorned with sculptures he has meticulously crafted over the past forty-six years. Gordon’s artistic journey began when he was just a schoolboy, and his passion has only grown since then.
Carl Gordon, Wood Sculptor
“I used to love to draw. That at one point, I actually stole my uncle’s drawing book and I took it to school. He was very good at drawing. And what I did was, I traced over some of his drawing and to kind of get the indication. So my friends, my classmates, they could have seen what I was doing. And when they saw me doing that, they got sort of interested and wanted to, wanted me to draw for them. They didn’t know what I was doing. So I would then do it for them, but without them looking at me.”
Gordon started honing his drawing skills on his own, steadily improving over time. It wasn’t until he reached adulthood that he discovered wood carving and fell in love with it. Nowadays, he finds his inspiration in the clouds, letting their shapes and forms guide his artistic vision.
“What really influences me in doing what I’m doing is the inspiration I get from looking in the clouds on a daily basis, because the clouds has all the formation of whatever I have in here, I would see it in the clouds.”
Gordon shares that he has a near-photographic memory, allowing him to vividly recall the images he sees in the sky during the morning and evening. He considers this ability to draw inspiration from the clouds and transform it into his wood carvings a true blessing. His art often reflects a deep connection to his African ancestry, a recurring theme in his work.
“When I look in the clothes and I see some of these formations and I put it together it’s like it kind of invokes me in a provocative manner. You understand? And I really do have to do something about it. So, I get wood, I look at the wood, I think about what I had seen, And I start the work. I start working and everything start coming together, you know? And this, this is the theme, from my ancestors. It’s like I am following their footsteps.”
Standing proudly in the center of Gordon’s pieces is a sculpture titled “Emancipation”. It depicts an African girl breaking the chains of oppression. He walks us through the creation of this piece. It started with a dying Mahogany tree that he saw on the side of the road.
“It was an old, rotten looking mahogany tree, but it was pretty solid. Rotten on the outside, but solid on the inside. And I had the opportunity to cut that tree. And he had given a piece to me. So this is what I carved from that piece of wood. But to get to this point, I used my chainsaw. I use, I do a lot of chainsaw cutting. Then I have my grinder, I have a disc grinder that I would grind it down with after getting it to the point. I do my chiseling, I work with my hatchet. You know, I do all that. So it’s a lot of things I have to put together in order to reach to this point that it is presently.”
Carl Gordon
“That’s love. That’s what I am blessed by the Father’s hand. You understand what I’m saying? This is my calling. I don’t want to be doing nothing else but carve and sculpt. You understand? So, it doesn’t really feel no way to me.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
