By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Richard Gildrie, a professor emeritus of history at Austin Peay State University, is widely known for his exhaustive knowledge of history – particularly relating to the American Civil War. But he is less known as a carver of what he calls “critters.” Gildrie creates these colorful, wooden animals, from squirrels to cats to more mysterious creatures, in the folk art vein as a hobby.
These critters will be celebrated with an event at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19 at Lovin’ Spoonful Café 128 University Avenue, during which they will be available for purchase. All proceeds will be donated to the Montgomery County Humane Society. George Mabry, an APSU music professor emeritus, has written a special song to be played during the occasion.
Lovin’ Spoonful, where the event will take place, is a quaint café operated by Jane Burney, an alumna of APSU. She said Gildrie’s critter collection at the cafe started when he asked if he could make a plaque for the “Mabry table” – where George and his wife, Sharon, always eat lunch.
“Yes, the Mabrys have their own table,” Burney said. “I said, ‘Sure, but I would like a bear, too.’ The collection grew from there.”
Burney then told the Mabrys that she thought they should have a “Critter Day,” hence the event on June 19.
For more information contact Lovin’ Spoonful at 931-553-4080.
APSU professor emeritus Richard Gildrie, PhD., is a hobbyist wood carver and his “critters” will be sold to benefit the Montgomery County Humane Society on June 19./Karen Parr-Moody
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.