Image Gallery
The House of Wooden Santas
Display Date:
November 22, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Where:
Level 3 Entrance to the Reference Room
Celebrate the season with a festive display from The Rooms collection of the original 24 wooden Santas carved by the artist Imelda George and featured in this classic children’s story written by Kevin Major.
Kevin was so moved by the Santas that he purchased the complete set from Imelda George more than two decades ago while he was writing his book. We are so pleased that this past year Kevin and Anne Major donated all 24 of the carvings to The Rooms collection. We are extremely grateful for this memorable gift to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
About the artist:
Artist Imelda George (1964-) is from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She started wood carving in the early 1990s. Famous for her carvings of fishermen, angels and treasure chests, her Santas became especially beloved after being featured in the 1997 book “The House of Wooden Santas”, written by Kevin Major, with photography by Ned Pratt. The story unfolds over 24 chapters, each meant to be read nightly leading up to Christmas. Kevin Major bought the first four Santas from George and then commissioned her to carve the additional 20 figures for the book.
About the Author of “The House of Wooden Santas”:
Kevin Major is the award-winning author of more than twenty books. He has written for both adults and young people—fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays. He resides in St. John’s, NL.
More about the book:
House of Wooden Santas | Detail (reddeerpress.com)
More about Imelda George:
Imelda George - Folk Art - Black Sheep Gallery (blacksheepart.com)
More about Ned Pratt:
Image: Jolly O’l Santa