Chainsaw Carving is an Art
Chainsaws and art may sound like an oxymoron. But, chainsaw carving is exactly what it sounds like, creating sculptures with the use of a chainsaw. It is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing art forms in the world. There are special events and festivals centered around chainsaw carving all over the world. It is becoming so popular that more of these events pop up every year.
The unique thing about chainsaw carving is that, not only does it result in a beautifully created piece of art, it has also evolved into somewhat of a spectator sport. Many carvers have turned it into performance art. People will come from miles around just to watch these artists at work. Watching a carver turn an ordinary log into a valuable piece of art is truly amazing to watch, and there are plenty of people willing to watch. Many people have been able to turn chainsaw carving into a full time job as some sculptures will sell for thousands of dollars, depending on the size and detail involved.
History
Chainsaw carving has been around for some time. For decades, it was only done as a hobby or something to pass the time by loggers. They would quickly carve out some type of design on a tree stump on their way to a job just for fun.
It wasn't until the 1960s that chainsaw carving was brought into the public eye. It started to appear at fairs and forestry expos. Some chainsaw dealers would have simple carvings that were done with their chainsaws to demonstrate how easy they were to use. At that point, it was nothing more than a gimmick to attract customers.
After that, it began to gain popularity among small groups around the country. People would do it as a hobby, and maybe load a few pieces in the back of their trucks and take them to the local fairs and festivals.
In the 1990s, chainsaw carving really began to catch on, thanks to the popularity of the internet. It has continued to grow at astonishing rates since then. Now, there are thousands of carvers in the U.S. Alone. It has also begun to catch on in other parts of the world, including Germany, the UK, Japan, Africa, and Australia. Many of the large chainsaw carving events in the U.S. Draw people from these, and other countries.
If one of these chainsaw carving events comes to an area near you, you really should consider checking it out. The things that the carvers are able to create will amaze you. Equally amazing is the style and beauty of actually watching them work.
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October 27 2009 | chainsaws | No Comments »