Mescalero Apache Woodcarver, Cabazon Resident, Gives Former Trees New Life

Woodcarver Thomas Serrano, who works and lives in the San Gorgonio Pass, says he enjoys creating artwork from former trees for several reasons.

But he sees his clients as a primary source of inspiration, because he wants them to be part of the creative process, and he believes the end result will be more unique.

"I like to use symbolism that is meaningful to the people," Serrano said Thursday in Banning. "That's why I request the folks to give me a design that they prefer. Not something they just walked into a store and there's 50,000 of them in that location, then there's another 20 million someplace else.

"This way they can have their own original art piece, something totally of their choice, at a reasonable price," Serrano said.

Serrano, 62, said he is Mescalero Apache, from Los Angeles, and now a resident of Cabazon.

"My place is across from Morongo," Serrano said. "I call it my hut."

Serrano says he did a recent piece for a Los Angeles attorney who requested an interpretation of the Aztec deity Xipe Totec.

"It was an intricate pattern, the size of a quarter, and we were able to work with it," Serrano said. "That was for an attorney, and let me tell you he didn't sue me afterwards. He was very satisfied."

Serrano also has one of the newest pieces on display at the , a dragonfly in flight above a desert mountain stream. Dragonflies are sacred to some Native American tribes. To the Navajo they symbolize pure water.

"It's white pine, a 24-inch diameter disc," he said. "Everything was intricately carved, even down to the plants that are on both sides of the waterway. Took me a little over 16 hours just to accomplish that aspect."

The rendering includes a kiich dwelling, typical of the homes of Maarrenga' yam, the Serrano people of Morongo area, said June Siva of the Learning Center.

"What I do as an artist basically is what a painter would do on a canvas," Serrano said. "I carve it out on wood, then I paint it. It creates satisifaction first, and it also allows me a little bit of extra leeway for coffee, my cigarette habit, and some more supplies.

"I'm also regiving life to a tree that somebody cut down for profit, and they removed comfort and shade and the sounds of the animals up in the trees," Serrano said. "And I restore a little of that, so when people put it in their home it's something they actually like, and draw comfort from. So the tree is still fulfilling its purpose in a sense."

Serrano can be reached at his home, (951) 922-3590, or at work, (951) 849-9335.