Wander down 9th Street during the day and you might miss the Prairie Wind Arts Studio.

Located next to the Legion hall, the front window sports a large yellow buffalo.

The windows are full of carved wood art that change daily.

During the day the shop is closed, but come back at 7:30 in the evenings or on the weekends and you'll see lights on and movement as a lone craftsman creates the art that lines the window sills.

Upon entering his shop you'll be greeted with a huge smile and a handshake by Scott Burke. The shop is packed full of carving tools, wood, and a small table with a coffee pot and a coffee kitty. A well used cribbage board sits off to the side inviting one to play.

Many nights you'll see folks sitting at the table as Scott expertly shapes random wood into amazing pieces of art. Each item has it's own spirit that Scott believes is transferred while he carves.

Scott followed an interesting trail to Adel. He grew up in Fort Dodge and spent time with Lakota and Sioux natives that influenced his view on life.

After graduating, he attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska. It was there that he met his wife. The young coulee moved to the Bronx in New York where his wife taught.

They moved back to Iowa where Scott graduated from Buena Vista University with a teaching degree. Scott has taught in Fargo, in Lake Wales, FL, and then in Des Moines.

Through the many moves his family grew to three children, two of which are in college and the youngest in 7th grade. They now make their home in Waukee, but are looking to move to Adel in the near future.

Scott was traveling through Adel one day and fell in love with the community. He found the 9th street location and it has proven to be an ideal location for his studio.

For the last 12 years he has been working at Lutheran Hospital during the day and Prairie Wind Arts in the evenings.

He learned to carve at an early age. The influence of his friends fostered a love for nature. He finds peace and contentment through carving. His art is a way to honor his spiritual beliefs. As each piece takes shape within his hands a story is formed. That story is included on a sheet of paper with each piece he sells.

Scott is a member of the Mid Iowa Woodcarvers and Des Moines Woodworkers.

While we visited he worked on a porcupine hair roach, or "porky roach"as he referred to it.

Each porky roach is painstakingly make from porcupine hair and deer hair. The hair is then colored with dyes. The rows of porcupine and deer hair are attached to a wool cord base, that is used by Native Americans in traditional dance ceremonies.

It is a disappearing art form that he was taught by one of the best.

Although we call it art, there is no word for art in the Lakota language as each item has function in the physical and spiritual world.

Teaching is still in his heart as he sells carving tools and teaches carving. One wall of his shop is full of wood that he acquires through gifts and by scrounging through stock piles.

He has two sheds of wood that he draws from for his projects. From walking sticks, to wolves and buffalo, each piece attains it's own life.

Scot's work starts at $20.00 and up. If you're looking for a unique gift with a great story, this is the shop to stop at.

As we talked, a visitor stopped by to have a cup of coffee and join in the conversation. Scott welcomes all visits and always has a spare chair to offer.

Take a stroll one evening and stop in and say hello, you'll enjoy the conversation.