The Petrified Wood Museum, Ogallala, Nebraska Making a Stone Butterfly

The Petrified Wood Museum, in Ogallala Nebraska, exemplifies, the lapindary work of Howard and Harvey Kenfield. They were Masters of Lapidary Art and took their skills to another level. They collected petrified wood from around Western North America, and developed techniques to make petrified wood artwork.

The artwork included making petrified wood music boxes and three dimensional picture art. The theme of the work included stone churches, stone houses, stone outhouses, and stone buildings reduced to scale. In addition, they also made butterflies out of various natural colored agates.

The Museum not only shows pieces from their huge collection of petrified wood but also includes agates from the western United States. One unique feature in the Museum is the display of how to make the stone structures and stone butterflies, (or at least the brothers techniques). In an earlier visit I decided to attempt to make a stone house, and the results were less than stellar. In fact, my building looked like something a three-year-old would make, so I dismantled it telling myself that some day I would do better.

This visit I paid close attention to the brothers step-by-step approach. I decided that first I will try to make a butterfly with various gemstones for the wings, body, and other parts. The equipment necessary is in my shop and I certainly have lots of beautiful rocks, just waiting to be cut, shaped and polished. The challenge of couse is to find the time, as in retirement I have discovered that there is simply not enough time to do everything I want to do. No rocking chair for me! No doubt unforeseen problems will arise, plans will demand change, and delicate pieces will break. Now if my health will just hold…… Clear skies

Ps I f you ever find yourself traveling interstate 80 across Nebraska, stop and enjoy the free Petrified Wood Museum, (this is our third time we have studied the lifetime works of the two bothers)