Local Craftmanship & Carpentry Creates Our Blue Water Classic Trophies
For over three decades, Raymundo Chi has carved out a space for carpentry in Belize with his wooden products—ranging from commissioned faces to blue marlins—and we are proud to have his work displayed on our Prize Table for the 14th Annual Belikin Blue Water Classic! “I started woodwork very early, at only eight years old. I have my dad to thank for it: he worked in the logging industry and did carpentry in his spare time. Seeing this “scrap” piece of wood become something else entirely really opened my eyes to art. I’ve been doing it ever since.” Because of that commitment to his craft, the Belize Game Fish Association has worked with Raymundo for the last four years, and counting, to have him represent eight categories with his handcrafted marine trophies, including the grand 1st Prize—which also tags along with $25,000 BZD!
“My very first project was a conch shell. I then moved on to a dory, then to marine animals, and I’m always up to a challenge to try [carving] something new. To me, the greater the challenge, the greater my motivation is.”
Chipping away on the weekends only, Raymundo’s first commission piece came at 18 years old—opening up the door to carpentry as a career. “I was living in Belize City at the time and looking for a job, however without much success. The first time I made money—a commissioned face—made me ask myself why continue looking for a job when I already have a trade.”
“I’ll work with anything based on my customer’s request, but my preferred wood choice is Ziricote because of its grain and color.” Indeed, Ziricote is hailed as a superior furniture and musical instrument lumber. The prize table for our 14th Annual Belikin Blue Water Classic will feature Ziricote replicas of tuna, sailfish, dorado, and more—its satin finish from just sanding alone. “The grain carves beautifully and that’s why it's often used for sculptures,” Chi confirms.
A Lucky Strike Towards A Career of Art
As we stepped foot into Lucky Strike Village where Chi operates his workshop, the true beauty of the artisan's craftsmanship became apparent—a testament to his unwavering dedication to creating tangible expressions of cultural heritage and history with hand-carved Belizean symbols. A symphony of wood shavings and rhythmic tapping of chisels is yet another tribute to Belize’s logging industry, Raymundo’s own father, and our anglers who absolutely deserve each trophy they take home.
“I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to make [your] trophies for the Belize Game Fish Association once again. To know that BGFA members see my work as art to display in their homes, across Belize, makes me really very proud.”
The honor of supporting local Belizean artists and their craft is all ours! To see Raymundo’s artwork for yourself, join us for Prize Giving inside Old Belize Food Market at Old Belize, Belize City at 6:00 PM on Saturday, October 21, 2023. To commission Raymundo, you can contact him at +(501)621-4640.
