Chainsaw carving
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The art of chainsaw carving is a fast growing form of art in the United States and in the rest of the world, that combines the modern technology of the chainsaw with the ancient art of woodworking.
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[edit] The beginning of the artform
The oldest chainsaw artist records go back to the 1950s, which include artists Ray Murphy and Ken Kaiser. In 1952 Ray Murphy used his father's chainsaw to carve his name into a piece of wood. In 1961 Ken Kaiser created 50 carvings for the Trees of Mystery.
In the early 1960s chainsaw dealers would line up at forestry expos and state fairs. As a gimmick to attract customers to their booth, the most creative guy in the company would carve simple carvings, demonstrating the lightness and power of their brand of chainsaws. It was then that the art of chainsaw sculpting was brought to the public.
Many new artists began to experiment with chainsaw carving, including Brenda Hubbard, Judy McVay, Don Colp, Susan Miller, Mike McVay, and Lois Hollingsworth. At this time chainsaw carvers started loading up their carvings in the back of their trucks, functioning as travelling galleries.
[edit] Today
Carvers usually either do "quick carves", which can draw a large audience, or they can spend months on carving one piece.
The first booking agency dedicated to promoting and preserving the integrity of performance chainsaw art was founded in 1992, by Brian Ruth.It was appropiately named, Masters of the Chainsaw.The company represents some of the most respected artists in the industry. In 2007, Masters released the first International group of female sculptors under the name, Chainsaw Chix.
Many wooden statues produced by the Canadian chainsaw artist Pete Ryan decorate the small town of Hope, British Columbia.
Brian Ruth,self-taught chainsaw artist of 28 years, introduced the art as a Performance Art to Japan in 1995. Since then, he has established a division of Masters of the Chainsaw and a chainsaw carving school in Toei, Japan.[1]
Special chainsaw blades and chains have been developed for carving. In Finland such equipment is affectionally called konepuukko ("mechanical puukko").
[edit] Ice
It should also be noted that chainsaw carving encompasses some ice sculpture.
[edit] Notable carvers
- Dennis Beach
- Brian Ruth
- Ben Risney
- Mark Tyoe
- Steve Backus
- Angie Polglaze / Australia
- Rod Green
- Michael Blaine
- Brett E Mclain
- Bob King
- Dayton Scoggins
- Jessie Groeschen
- Brad Sharp
- Holger Baer / Germany
[edit] Notable groups of carvers
- Chainsaw Men of Michigan
- Michigan Coalition of Chainsaw Carvers / www.mcoc.biz
- Masters of the Chainsaw * www.chainsaw.net
- Chainsaw Chix * www.chainsawchix.co
[edit] Notable orgainizations
- Chainsawsculptors.com http://www.chainsawsculptors.com
- United Chainsaw Carvers Guild www.uccg.org
- Cascade Chainsaw Sculptors Guild
- Appalachian Arts Studio / Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous / www.appalachian-arts.com
- Ridgway, PA Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous Capital of the World / www.chainsawrendezvous.org
- Masters of the Chainsaw * http://www.chainsaw.net
- Chainsaw Chix * http://www.chainsawchix.com 1-888 CHAINSAW
- Michigan Coalition of Chainsaw Carvers / www.mcoc.biz
[edit] References
- Groeschen, Jessie (2005). Art of Chainsaw Carving. East Petersburg, Pennsylvania: Fox Chapel Publishing. ISBN 1-56523-250-X.
- Chainsaw woodcarvings: District of Hope, British Columbia - Canada
