My attention span is so short that I get bored when I spend two days on a project. I can't imaging spending ten years on one. That's exactly what Charlie Kested has done from 2000 to 2010. The Johnstown, NY man started the project when he was 71 years young. Now at 81 he has finished this beautiful and large piece of art.
Charlie worked on this cutting of the Declaration of Independence one word at a time cutting it from walnut. He then used a wire system to keep his lines straight as he glued them to the Baltic Birch plywood background.Unfortunately Charlie suffered a life threatening stroke during this time and after a long recovery he finished the work with no feeling in his left hand. The former industrial arts teacher never gave up and said he always knew he would finish the piece. The hard work paid off when the piece won a first place at the Florida state fair.
Charlie says he hopes his story will inspire others with similar issues to never give up."I feel really blessed. I want people to know that you can still do things, that they should't give up, they should keep going," he said.
Charlie did not give up. As a matter of fact he is still going. The next project is the Gettysburg Address. He hopes to have this one finished in time for next years stat fair. You go Charlie.