!
:., J
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, February 13, 1997 25
Paul Goin began his love affair with leather 30 years because sight is vital for his art.
ago. It began when his wife, Phyllis, gave him a thirteen Currently, the craftsman has good days and bad days.
dollar leather tool set. He wasn't much impressed with the Most days, he spends part of his day in his shop working,
gift. "No way do I have the patience for leather work," he thinking and looking at the many products he has created.
said. Sometimes, people drop by
His days were lonely. ! to look, to buy or just to say
He worked a night shift at [ "Hello."
TRW in southern Califor- !]; Phyllis continues to en-
nia. Phyllis worked days for courage his leather work. She
the same employer. He de- helps set up and take down
cided to see what he could the displays at craft shows
make with the tools. To his and brings coffee and lunch
surprise he liked beginning and often just keeps him
with a pliable piece of leather company. Goin also receives
and turning it into a wallet, encouragement from his
belt or purse, brother who recently moved
Selecting a design or to Pahrump and is in the pro-
creating his own, tooling and cess of building a home. He
stamping, oiling and dyeing still finds time to make
broughtan undreamedofsat- frames for Goin's pictures.
isfaction. The more he The leather artist plans
worked with leather, the to "keep on, keepin' on. He
more he loved his develop- set up his display at the
ing craft. He made mocca- Pahrump Visual and Per-
sins, knife holders, earrings, forming Arts Council "Fiber
cellular phone cases and hat Arts Showcase" last week-
bands, end for the first time since
The more he explored his cancer diagnosis.
the ways he could bring Where does he see his
leather to life, the more Goin craft headed from here?
loved the material. He found People interested in leather
he could grow beyond crafts art have approached Goin
to use his pliable leather as a medium for his drawings. He and asked if he would consider giving them lessons. He
began to create leather art, tooled pictures of people, ani- decided to share his skill by teaching others. The first three
mals and nature. The artist favors southwestern themes, students are a retired man and two boy scouts. All three will
Native Americans, buffalo, horses, coyotes and mountain receive private lessons. Goin says it's more effective to
lions are some he likes best. teach one on one which al-
Retired in 1983, Goin devoted more time to his hobby, lows him to work with each
Friends and family liked his work and asked for custom person's skill level and rate
items. His hobby'grew gradually into a business. When he of progress.
and Phyllis moved to Pahrump following a few years of post Will he take more stu-
retirement life in Minnesota, Goin started displaying his dents?"Yes," he says. He is
work at craft shows. His clientele grew wih the added also taking custom orders,
exposure, and has an appealing variety
His need for space expanded too. His sp.'ialty tools, of framed leather pictures
stored in custom cabinets made by Goin's brother, now and all of the craft items
number over 300. There is his work table fitted with an listed above in his shop.
adjustable lamp. He has portable display racks and tables. To view Goin's art visit
Lots o'f materials. Hundreds of patterns. And, numerous him at "Ye Old Leather
customers want to look at his work. Pouch & Picture Place" lo-
A new building to house "Ye Old Leather Pouch and cated at 1391 West Gold
Picture Place" gave him the space he needed to create and Dust Lane. Phone first, 727-
show his work. 0381.
And, the man who dis-
covered his creative medium
10" SUB $3.65
PASTRAMI SANDWICH $3.25
. tm!l
Phone Orders Welcome 727-4300
Hours 10 am to 7 pm
Hwy 160 Valley View Plaza
when he received a thirteen
dollar tool set lived happily
ever after. Not quite.
In June 1996, Goin was
told he had lung cancer. Goin
doesn't just give up. He
weathered angioplasty and
open heart surgery and re-
turned to the leather work he
loves. After heart surgery,
Goin had the energy to join
Phyllis and neighbor, J. D.
Bowman, in forming a
Neighborhood Watch pro-
gram.
Cancer has been
tougher. Goin was treated
with chemotherapy and ra-
diation. He says the chemo-
therapy made him real sick
and he has lost a lot of weight.
He was blind for almost 24
hours after one treatment. He
says, that scared him the most
Uncle Al's Oasis
Indoor/Outdoor
Swap Meet
Amusement Arcade
Snack Bar
Hours:
Mon.- Thurs. lOam to 5pro
Fri., Sat., Sun- 9am to 6pm
1850 E. Kendall
