The Last Wooden Shoe Carvers
The Forum 30 State St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
press release: Watch as Journeyman Luke Traver carves a wooden shoe (also known as klompen) using only three handmade tools and a wood vice while sharing the history and artistry behind his work. Klompen are the traditional wooden shoes originally worn by the Dutch to work in the fields where they protected them from the cold and the moisture. Traver is one of the few people in the United States to practice this craft.
Traver learned his skills from Master Shoe Carver, Bob Siegel, Jr. Siegel, now in his 90s, was taught by Dutch master shoe carvers in the Netherlands and has been featured in the PBS series “The Woodwright Shop.”
This program is part of Downtown Madison BID's Summer in YOUR City programming. Visit their website for more information on this downtown initiative.