A unique Christmas exhibit is currently on display at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center in Maysville.
Inside the Wormald Building are numerous tiny Santa Claus figurines as a part of the Santa Claus Tradition exhibit. Each one-of-a-kind carving has its own back story.
The carvings were made by Duane Lambert, who began his journey into woodworking in 1994.
“I probably started around 1994 or 95,” he said. “My mother loved Christmas and crafts. I was principal at the high school then and Julie Kinney, the guidance counselor at the time, taught me how to carve wood. I made one each year for my mother and every figure represents a significant moment of her life during that year.”
According to Lambert, his mother died in 1999 and he continued the tradition for his two daughters.
“I carve one for each of them every year,” he said. “Every Santa represents something in their life.”
Lambert said he puts a note in his daughters’ stockings. The note will lead them on a hunt to find the Santa he made that year.
“They’re adults now, but they still look for that note,” he said.
In the exhibit hall, the Santas have cards in front of them that tells why he chose that design.
One Santa has on a blue cap and gown. He holds a flag that says ‘MCHS Class of 2001’ and a diploma.
Next to the Santa is a note about his daughter, Amy, graduating from high school.
“Amy graduated from Mason County High School. Her Santa holds her diploma. Go Royals! Mandy’s Santa represents the college years,” the note reads.
Other Santas include two holding bags and stockings with I “heart” NY. They represent the family trip to New York in 2010. Santa wearing flip flops and holding a plate of food represents the family trip to the beach in 2002.
The hardest Santa, according to Lambert, is the one that looks like he is walking into the wind.
“My younger daughter wanted one that looked like it was in the wind,” he said. “It’s probably the most difficult one I’ve made, because I couldn’t get him to look exactly how I wanted, but I made it for her.”
Lambert said he usually uses bass wood for the figures and they often have a mind of their own.
“I never know exactly what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s like they have a mind of their own while I’m carving them.”
All of the figures in the room belong to his daughters or come from his mother’s collection.
“My daughter shipped hers from Dallas,” he said. “I have a few I made from my mother and the others are ones I’ve made for my daughters.”
A picture of the Lambert family can also be seen in the exhibit hall.
The exhibit also features trains provided by Tanner Pitakis, according to Curator Sue Ellen Grannis.
“CJ knew he had those trains and he thought it would be a nice addition to the exhibit — to give it even more of a Christmas feel,” she said.
According to Grannis, the exhibit will be open until right after Christmas.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults and $2 for students.
