Delhi wood carver sees the world

When Kelly Salow received an invitation for an all-expenses paid trip to Turkey - where he would be featured during the international World Wood Day celebration - it sounded too good to be true.

'My initial thoughts were that someone was messing with me,” he said.

But after he and his daughter Kerri Hays researched the event and the International Wood Culture Society, which puts on the event, they came to the conclusion it was a 'once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Salow received the invitation Feb. 27 and left a little more than two weeks later.

'It was absolutely a whirlwind,” Hays said.

Salow was one of 184 international artists from 93 countries invited to the World Wood Day celebration. Hays, who owns a photography business, was able to travel with her father and take photos for marketing purposes.

Salow and Hays spent two weeks in Eskisehir, Turkey. During their first five days, the wood carvers gathered in a tent and carved pieces for a museum in Turkey.

The celebration also included exhibitions of wooden instrument builders, wood turners and dancers. Salow said he had opportunities to take tours of the city and places outside the city.

Carving with artists from around the world challenged how he used to stereotype people, Salow said.

'I was very guilty of categorizing people by race or religion or whatever,” he said. 'I hope I learned to not do that.”

Hays said how well they were treated by everyone inspired her to be more kind.

'I would say the hospitality and the kindness that we witnessed there was just beyond anything we'd witnessed, even in the United States,” she said.

During their time there, one of the Turkish college students working as translators invited Salow, Hays, and carvers from several countries - including Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Poland - for Turkish coffee at her family's house. Salow said in addition to getting to know one another, everyone ended up singing songs from their home countries. Salow and Hays sang 'This Little Light of Mine.”

'It was amazing how close we all got,” Hays said. 'We left feeling like we had the best of friends from all over the world.”

This certainly proved true for Salow on his birthday three days after he returned from Turkey.

'I bet you I got birthday wishes from at least 30 different countries around the world,” he said.

One carver in particular - Charles Chambata, from Zambia - left a strong impression on Salow. Now the artists are hoping to visit each other in their home countries and carve together.

'Besides things that I've experienced with my family, it's probably the best thing that's happened to me in my life,” he said.