BURRVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Some of the most skilled wood carvers in the world are in the North Country right now.
Their tool of choice: chainsaws.
“It’s a little difficult at first, but you learn to do good art with it,” said Alonzo Montoya, a support carver.
Carvers from places like Wales, Ireland, Australia, and Japan are at Burrville Power Equipment, taking part in the US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship.
“So with the carver end of it, this is the first time that all of this talent has been together in one place,” said Scott Simmons, Burrville Power Equipment owner.
A number of the sculptors, deemed master carvers, have already won chainsaw competitions in other parts of the world.
The theme for this year’s competition is finding beauty in a troubled world.
“Japanese samurai have a strong heart. I will carve a samurai, but not human. Samurai Cat,” said Takao Hayashi, a master sculptor from Japan.
John Hayes came from Ireland to compete. He explained why he loves using a chainsaw to carve.
“The creativity. The physicality. The danger. It’s kind of a combination of it all, really. It’s not just the art form. It’s the battle you have with the log and then what you find within the log,” he said.
The competition will run every day through Saturday.
Some sculptures will be auctioned off. The ones made by master sculptors, however, will be staying in the community.
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