American goldfinch to represent Georgia on White House tree

Posted 7:03PM on Saturday 30th November 2002 ( 22 years ago )

LaFAYETTE - A delicate American goldfinch will land on the White House Christmas tree as Georgia's ornamental contribution to the president's holiday decorations. LaFayette woodcarver Lloyd Cochran, 64, came up with the idea for the goldfinch after he was one of four people selected by the governor's office and the Georgia Council of Arts to design an ornament for the White House holiday celebration. ``To say the invitation was a surprise is an understatement,'' he said. He chose the goldfinch because one recently landed on a flowerbed of seed cones beside his woodworking shop. He carved the goldfinch perched on coneflower seedpods out of tupelo wood. The White House holiday theme is ``All Creatures Great and Small.'' The tree will be decorated with replicas of birds indigenous to each artist's state. Cochran's ornament is one of about 400 to be placed on the tree. ``It is an honor and humbling experience,'' Cochran said. ``Hopefully, the carving will bring pleasure to those who see it.'' The carving, which took about 60 hours to create, is about 4.5 inches by 1.5 inches and weighs 6 ounces. It has already been sent to Washington, D.C., to be placed on the Christmas tree in the Blue Room. He chose the goldfinch because of its gold and black colors. ``I wanted something that would show up no matter the habitat,'' Cochran said. Cochran began carving in 1987 when his wife asked him to make a duck for her. Since then, he has captured prizes in competitions in the Southeast and Canada. Four people have requested American goldfinch ornaments since he finished the White House model, but the original can't be exactly duplicated. ``If I tried to do it, I couldn't make these things alike to save my life,'' he said. The original will be saved as part of the White House permanent ornament collection.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/11/187131