Carl McCulloch

I am considered by many to be one of Belize’s best wood lathe artists.  My name is Carl McCulloch and I am passionate about beautiful wood and am blessed to live in a country with a bountiful supply of a vast variety.  Of these, the Zericote, which is a hardwood of unmatched beauty and uniqueness, is a favorite of mine and inspires work of the same. 

I was born in December of 1972 to Calvin and Rosenda McCulloch, who lived on a small farm in a very small, remote community by the name of May Pen Village, located along the very scenic and historic Belize Old River.  Here my father did subsistence farming, wood lathe art, wood carvings and sometimes cowhorn carvings, which he sold in the commercial capital, Belize City. 

My father had a self-designed lathe made from a 1¼ inch metal shaft, adapted with a pulley and face plate, mounted on two bench bearings.  The tool rest was designed from a truck spring, a pipe, a couple of bolts and a ¾” rod.  A wooden bench, built into the ground for support, a motor and an old Briggs & Stratton generator made it all possible. 

I am proud to say, of the four lathes I’ve worked on to date, this old machine, which was built many years before I was born is still my favorite. 

My childhood days were spent fishing, swimming, running off to school barefooted along paths cut through the thick jungle along the river banks like every other child in the community.  Doing chores like fetching water from the river, attending to the farm animals and birds, and sometimes helping Dad to cut through a large Zericote log with a 4 foot long, two-man hand saw he used as he had no chainsaw in those days.

My three sisters and I would often be asked to help with sanding the bottoms and polishing piece to a “glist”, the beautiful bowls, ashtrays and covered bowls he was preparing for sale.  I often spent many hours during the holidays sitting and observing my father at his art; and sometimes I would be allowed to help him sand the bowls.

Time flew by quickly and I was dealing with the shock of going to Junior High in the City and having to live with relatives; but by the end of the first three years, I graduated with special recognition as best woodwork student and was awarded at graduation ceremonies.

My next four years of schooling were spent away from the workshop, however, as I pursued Academic Sciences. I then gained employment as a field technician for an environmental agency.  At the same time I entered the sport of cycling and rarely went home.  After two years, my contract was up and I was out of a job.  I thought to myself it was time to go home and learn the lathe art trade; which would allow me ample cycling time and besides, Dad was always encouraging me to learn, stating it would be a means of income when I was not employed. 

At the end of the first week, I had my first bowls and sold them in the City.  I was proud. I felt accomplished and a passion was born.  I took the little money I had, bought material to work with and silently swore to myself that I would make a business from my newly acquired skills.  I worked eight wonderful years beside my dad in which time I learnt all he had to teach and sought additional skills from other sources.  In those years we became best friends and partners in business.  We shared a very special relationship and after his passing at the scourge of cancer a few years ago, I dedicated myself to carrying on with his works.  My wife and I now live on and care for the farm.

After over ten years at the lathes, I have still not had a dull day at work.  I love what I do.  I love wood and my greatest satisfaction besides admiring a newly turned piece is the gasp I often hear when someone sees my work for the first time.