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(Update)
If you’re in the Niagara region this weekend and you like wood carvings, you may want to check out a chainsaw carving competition in Welland. About a dozen Ontario carvers are hoping to ingrain some interest in the art and teach more people how to do it.
Jean Pierre Gautier has been carving wood sculptures for about twenty years. He’s been wanting to organize this event for awhile now: “I just want people to learn how to look at something differently you know? It’s not just fine wood. There’s something inside you just got to dig out the parts in the way and you got yourself a carving.”
Finally he invited about twelve carvers from across Ontario to join him in a four day event that began Thursday. Paul Bidan from Innisfil is one of them. “It’s a fantastic past time it’s a great hobby it pays a little bit, there’s not too many hobbies that pay.”
Jean Pierre said: “My plan is I want to open up a school of art so this is step 1.”
The prices range from 20 to 3,000 dollars for a carving. This bear for example will cost you 425 dollars.
“They’re probably spending 14 or 15 hours on one here and it sold for $120 — that’s pretty cheap.”
“It’s amazing that it’s done with a chainsaw, it’s art!”
Chloe Finch is 7-years old: “I never knew you could do that. Is that something you’d want to do when you get older? Maybe. Why? Cause it’s cool.”
Steve Thomson says he doesn’t try to make a living off his work but: “It’s fun, keeps an old man out of trouble. I sell everything I produce except the ones my wife wants.”
There’ll be all kinds of carvings up for auction on West Main Street in Welland both Saturday and Sunday.
When you can watch white pine or cedar take on a whole new look.