Konstantinos Papadakis,a Greek-American resident of Minnesota, has been carving wood for 65 years, and he has no intention of stopping. His great-grandfather on the island of Crete lived to be 119, so Papadakis claims he will stop carving when he reaches that age too.
Papadakis was recently in Tulsa to talk with leaders at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church about making a new, intricately carved 40-foot wooden screen to hold icons in the ancient Orthodox tradition. He is one of two candidates for the job.
Papadakis said that since the death of his mentors, he is the last artisan who works in that unique Cretan-style of woodcarving.
His love of woodcarving began when he was a 9-year-old boy and saw the great work of a famous woodcarver on vacation in Crete. Amazed, Papadakis asked his grandfather how he could do it; that was the beginning of his artistic work.
The boy tagged along with the woodcarver for a few days. At the end of the week, the artist told him to work on his craft and if he was good enough in a year, he would teach him. The promise thrilled the boy and he spent the year carving. He exhibited a very strong will.
The next summer, the artist returned, and after looking at the boy’s work, encouraged the father to let him train. So he became a woodcarver at the age of 12.
He trained in Greece, and in 1966, as social and financial conditions deteriorated, he sought work in the USA. That December, he and his family arrived in Minneapolis to take a job at a wood shop. He now has his own shop in Minneapolis, carving wooden screens and furniture for Greek Orthodox churches and businesses and individuals across the United States.
Papadakis admits that woodcarving is his “first love.” A strong believer, he says miracles have long been a part of his life and work. As a 6-year-old, he was struck with polio and left unable to walk. Three weeks after a monk prayed for his healing, he began to walk, and two weeks after that, he said, “I was running around like a wild goat.”
Find out more about K. Papadakis’ works at : www.konstantinospapadakis.com
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