Marvin Bourque and carving go hand-in-hand

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Sometimes people refer to him as Starvin' Marvin. Like so many others who dabble in the profession of arts and crafts, he has had his hungrier moments in the up and down business of art sales.

Marvin Bourque's carving is probably known as second only to the work of master carver Sonny MacDonald. And it is no strange coincidence that both of them hail from Fort Chipewyan, but grew up in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

For the first time in his career, Bourque decided to take a stab at carving out a niche for himself in one of western Canada's metropolitan communities, Edmonton. Two months ago, the carver set up shop in Edmonton's Meadowlark Shopping Mall where he and his wife, Claudette opened a shop called Marvin's Carvings. The two are patiently waiting for business to pick up.

The artist knows he must be patient and bide his time. After all, success does not happen overnight in his business. One has to "create and maintain a following," explains Bourque who often relies on repeat business from customers.

And once the word gets around that a quality carver is around, the orders will happen, he believes.

Apart from his own art, Bourque is also trying to build up his stock in other forms of Native artwork for his store.

Bourque got an early start and remembers carving as far back as he can recall. About 10 years ago, his mother presented him with a carving he'd done when he was about seven years old. He cranked out work until his teens, then left it for a decade when he didn't feel he noticed any improvement.

He went to work on the pipeline for more than 20 years. One day, he explains, a co-worker suggested he quit carving because he didn't have what it takes.

"He told me, 'don't quit your day job.'" That was then, but two years later he was producing quality carvings for $600 and "that co-worker was begging for one."

In time Bourque got so good, his work wound up in Germany, Italy, the United States, and France, and with a National Football League team, the Pope, and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. His pieces fetch up to $6,000.

His advice to novice carvers: "Have lots of patience. You can't give up."