Martha Jane Designed and carved by Vicki Bishop

  MARTHA JANE

The idea for this carving came from viewing an HBO series called Deadwood.  Martha Jane Cannary aka Calamity Jane was a fascinating character who showed her contempt of convention which she displayed by wearing men's clothing, cussing, chewing tobacco, drinking, and in general trying to best the men she associated with.  The costume she was wearing was the inspiration for carving this piece.  She was a bullwhacker so a bullwhip had to be constructed.  Having braided several bullwhips (actually snake whips) one summer for our son, Phil, and myself;  the scale model of these whips was created.  It was braided out of kangaroo hide over wire so it would form to look like she was cracking it.  There was no way to carve this out of wood, so the next best thing was done.

Medicine Show Designed and carved by Phil Bishop

Medicine Show

 Medicine Show with Dr. Hedgethicket Esq. III, hawking his wares came about during the Oklahoma Centennial celebration, held at the Flying W Guest Ranch in Elk City, OK.

Hedgethicket amazed the crowds as they participated in a rain dance while he blasted a shot gun into the air, making it rain from a cloudless sky.

Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled miracle medications and other products between various entertainment acts.  Snake Oil as it was known was claimed to have the ability to cure any disease, smooth wrinkles, remove stains, prolong life, or cure anything that ailed you.  Entertainment often included a freak show, a flea circus, musical acts, magic tricks, jokes, and trained mice.