The 2nd Annual Canadian Carv-a-Palooza Synopsis
So…still tingling? What can I say, another year of the event has taken place and it was even more of an awesome adventure than the year before. We had twenty seven+ carvers which were comprised of twenty five men and two women, take part which came from farther corners of the globe and continent, ranging from Europe, northern Canada and the US. The skill levels also varied from new to experienced masters this is the recipe for creating a magical atmosphere on a level which is evident to all participants. The viewing public and volunteers are also spellbound by the magical energy.
My outlook, dream or what have you, from the start, was that to create an enjoyable symposium and for this type to work, there must be a mixture of those with open ears and minds to learn and those with the skills and generosity to share their life experiences and passions with their peers.
This took place once again and we had twenty seven students, teachers mixed all with something to share besides the camaraderie, by all.
Carvers, friends and helpers were arriving by the Tuesday before the event to get everything as set up as possible and the majority of the carvers arrived between Wednesday evening and Tuesday morning.
Wednesday was an open day for carving, so we all got a good start selecting wood, arranging tools, saws, stands setting up tents to try and fit as many as possible under them.
The carving wood selection varied from firewood size to 7’ trunks, due to such a variation of skill, confidence level of participants and most having some sort of plan of what they wanted or hoped to achieve over the duration. Getting to know each other and setting up for the next four days of “what is going to happen next” was part of the event induction.
These rough pieces of natures’ own artwork would soon be transformed into works of art using imagination, reference examples, chainsaws, carving saws, power carving tools and pure heart.
Seminars were performed informally on Wednesday with more structured seminars scheduled throughout the remainder of the event.
We had Steven Kenzora, from Peterborough, Ontario teaching how to whiz through the creation of a native Indian face using only an angle grinder, sanding disc and a Dremmel tool.
Neil Cox was born in the Ingersoll area and now hails from Toronto, Ontario he brought his magic alive and presented two seminars: chainsaw carving a human face and the second seminar was carving human hair. He presented this with very good descriptions of the aspects quite often overlooked by a new carver who challenges themselves with this subject and is considered one of the most difficult to master, next to the equine.
Bob Taylor aka. Backwater, Blackwater, Backwoods Bob from Chelsea, Michigan, literally brought light to an interested crowd on the “How to project a profile of an image” using an overhead projection system.
Dick Tilley, well what can I say, I enjoy just listening to his voice, accent and calm excitement he exudes! Dick has many tricks in his magic box and as many stories to go along with them and has a one and only personal style of which he can teach as well as he does the creation. Dick taught a number of seminars on fire dancers, green-men, using off-cuts and numerous other interesting skills and presented extra seminars after dinner.
Colin Partridge hails from Thornton, Ontario and is “The Spirit Carver” and has carved his icons all over Canada and the US. Colin had quite a captivated crowd while he showed how he creates his original style of Spirit and also his carving.
After the dust and sun settled each night, most of the carvers stayed around until late in the evening for formal and informal seminars and I taught a few myself on chain sizes and designs along with advantages/disadvantages, a demonstration on carving bar dressing, sharpening and ¼ pitch chain modifications verses the new Stihl RMS13 carving chain.
I must say I commend each and every carver for putting their heart and soul into the event, and the hard work and sharing spirit together to create such a magical atmosphere and also producing well over 100 carvings through the combination of their main pieces and the two one hour quick carves held on Friday and Saturday. Next years event will off a one hour quick carve on the Sunday just before the auction.
We had no idea how the auction would go over but no one was counting on this as the reward for coming because they had already exceeded in learning more than expected. The auctioneer John Johnson, volunteered his time and it was his first ever experience auctioning such interesting pieces. We learned a lot which will be applied to next year and the event will run even smoother.
The auction total for this years event was $9505.00 with the total being split up were the internationals where given 75% and the event received 25% and the national carvers received a 50/50 split with the event.
There are many things we are working on for next year’s event to make it even more interesting and for the event to flow ever smoother for the carvers! I have been communicating with more businesses for sponsorship of “give away” prizes and also increasing the carver’s packages they receive upon arrival.
We have invested some of the money into two more 10’ x 20’ tents, air beds, cots, a new large bbq, more logs (always need them!) and working on building permanent roofed structures for carving under.
I hope to be able to take part in the carving next year but must work on getting more skilled people also to volunteer their time and help out & we did have a few offers coming in on the Sunday for people to become involved for next year which was awesome to see the local community getting behind and supporting the event.
We will be doing a few different things for the public also and will be supplying a Johnny, possibly having the local scouts involved with a food and beverage booth, posting a schedule of the event for speed carve and auction times, a separate handicapped parking area and other ideas we are currently working on.
I want to thank Stihl Canada & Greg Quigg for supporting the event through opening their demo pool and loaning us saws to accommodate carvers travelling in from out of the area and all the drawn prizes, including the new MS180 saw, coats and promotional items. I also would like to thank Dennis Gibbons and McFarland Rowland insurance for their support with such nice prizes also!
Thanks to the Highgate Legion for allowing us to make use of their lodge for our meals and the prize give away session on Saturday evening and to all the local residents who opened their homes willingly to all the carvers and especially, the community for supporting this event, without this it would not be possible!
I want to thank Jim and Gina for their generosity and time they put into preparing most of the food which was delicious! Everyone helped out and worked together in harmony.
This is such an exhilarating time for Laura and I and a pleasure to host such wonderful people with common interests and each year it just keeps exceeding what we dreamt of, for such a fun get together of hearts and minds. We can’t wait until next year!
Thanks, Robbin Wenzoski
A link to photos of the event Carv-a-Palooza 2010
Welcome the the 2nd Annual Canadian Carv-a-Palooza
Carvers Bio's
Bob Taylor AKA Backwater Bob, born 1950 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Presently living in Michigan.
I was always interested in art but due to the demands of life spent my whole life as a carpenter until recently. My plan was to carve full time when I retired, I loved my trade but felt I needed to express my creative juices.
Having carved with knives and gouges making small sculptures and carved canoe paddles for myself and my friends.
I thought that was what I would do....Two years ago I saw a man at a fair carve a three foot eagle in 45 min....Wow !
Now my chainsaw brings dreams and visions from brain to wood. I am a small part of a huge carving family. My goals are to develop my skills as far as I can.
Colin Partridge, Thorton, Ontario
I have been carving on and off for the past twelve years since my retirement from the RCMP.
I needed something to do when I retired so I started carving small stuff such as Santa's.
One day I was at a craft show in Orangeville and I met Luc Andrews and Sandy the rest is history.
I have stuck pretty much with tree spirits I am good at them and they have been good to me. I have now carved probably around seventy five tree's all tree spirits all in different areas. The one exception was Sir Robert Barrie in Barrie Ontario I carved him from the waist up into a tree. The reason I don't carve anything else is that it is out of my comfort zone and I am a big chicken. Never the less I love carving and love people even more so it is a great mix.
http://woodspiritcarver.netfirms.com/
I’m “Dutch Dik” van Oers, 65 years old. The eldest Dutch performing chainsaw carver.
My former profession was legal adviser, but since some years I’m retired and enjoy my pension.
During ten years I lived together with my wife, two dogs and four cats high in the French Alps, on the borderline of wild nature. Since three years we’re back in Holland.
I started chainsaw carving when I saw a forester making a bear by chainsaw. Because I had already 5 years experience in cutting trees by chainsaw around my house, I tried to make a piece, which was rather successful, so I continued making more and more, got commissions, joined carving-shows and set up my own studio.
Aside from chainsaw carving I also practice carving small detailed pieces in the traditional way of hand carving with knives, chisels and gouges.
In my big chainsaw pieces, I sometimes finish the details by hand carving, however I must admit that more and more I make my pieces 100% chainsaw.
Finally however, for me it’s not of any importance if the piece is finished with or without power tools or hand tools. Up to me, the only thing that really counts is the result!
I do my carving officially registered as a professional carver, but it started as a hobby and up till now, it still feels like hobby and I want it to keep it like that.
Website: www.sculptureart.info
My name is Dick Tilley, I reside in Northamptonshire, England in a small town called Raunds.
I have been carving for 7 years professionally and loving it!
This year I am planning on travelling to a number of different countries for different events.
I recently attended the Ridgway Vous', in Pensilvania, a week long chainsaw packed adventure.
In may and june I have 3 trips to Germany. Berlin, Gotha and Wolfach in the Black Forest.
This is going to prove to be one of the best years of my life, being able travel and create sculptures with some of the best in the game is an honour, its a way of life for me.
September, the first weekend I will be demonstrating at Maple Durham House, birth place of The Wind in the Willows', the second week see's me in Bicknell, Knox County US for the Chaz' Fest' a great get together of sharing and creating sculptures for the public to have a chance to buy some unique works from artists around the world.
The third week of September I will be in Holland, Fasna Carving, Vassen, a bi annual event.
The future awaits......
dick
Honky Hawrysio was introduced to the art of wood carving in 1996. Due to a serious motor cycle accident late that year Honky did not pick up a knife until the spring of 98, when the passion returned in the fall of 98 Honky started teaching what has become known as the "wooden expressions". To date Honky has taught over 6000 victims from Nebraska to southern Ontario and even Newfoundland. Honky is an artist who specializes in caricature carving and we are proud that he has agreed to share his knowledge and techniques of the art of caricature carving. He has taught for Lee Valley, Wood Clubes and has offered to put on an intermediate class on the techniques of carving a caricature head. This carving class is intended for the intermediate wanting to learn new caricature carving techniques.
With Thanks Honky
Jason Donnelly, Artist and Owner of Big Wood & the Carving co.
A Tree Service and Chainsaw Sculpture company, maybe the only one of its kind in Ontario.
The belief is "If a tree needs to be cut down, why not preserve its history and beauty in art form.
Also skilled at using chisels for fine details on fire place mantles or cottages signs and designs
and builds rustic furniture. He says " I believe in recycling as much wood as possible from the Tree Service side of Big Wood & the Carving co. so I also build rustic furniture. I guess it’s my way to save it from a landfill site.
I also think, as a consumer, we buy too much plastic, so I'm giving people an option to the plastic
garden ornament or lawn chair. Sure the plastic will last a thousand years longer, but I guarantee
it will break sooner than expected"
Jeff Taylor, Barrie, Ontario
I am 20 years old and live in Barrie Ontario. I have been carving for just over 3 years and started out in soapstone., I then moved on to wood carving and that’s when my addiction to sculpting grew I love doing larger carving. I now do most of my shaping with a chainsaw and found this is where my passion is.
Jim Angell, aka Harry But,
London, OntarioJim is a new carver that mostly practices on his “Canuck Weekend” excursions to the Ontario outback, carving on his property in “whatever attire suits him”. He was the biggest help with the Palooza 2009 & suprized everyone with taking part, off the side, in the first speed carve of the event. Jim has hung out & helped me out with many of the carvings in London to date & has, what most would vote, as the best sculpture in London, Ontario.
Jim Hutchinson, aka “Turnbuckle”
57 yrs young .... been carving 5yrs , got the Palm tools...... then the mallet chisels ..... and now have the saw. A natural progression.
Have a lot of learning to do , spent a few years vacation time , panning for gold in the backwoods, but never looked at a tree .... wood identification was not on the list , except for campfires.
got educated in Toronto , and got to be a licensed mechanic for a while. From there I moved into Standardbred racing as an owner/trainer , based in Orangeville. Did some small business stuff (pizza joint , custom printing) . In between all this I also did a few years as a Pro Wrestler. Now working as a shipper at a plant in Brampton
Hobbies ...... Ballroom dancing, poker 
Nancy Wood, London, Ontario
Old hippy grov’n with her chainsaw!!
I started carving with hand tools 6 years ago and that led me to a chainsaw class…3 years ago….love the chainsaw
Only regret is that I did not discover this art form many years ago.
I learn something new every time I pick it up…especially if Robbin is close by.
Paula Tully
I spend the year split between two homes, one in Bobcaygeon, Ontario and the other in Atlanta, Georgia. My summers are always in Ontario where I have been carving Totem poles for several years with Axe & hammer, chisel and gouges. I just knew there had to be an easier way to deal with hard woods. When chainsaw carving showed up as a credit course on the Haliburton School of Fine Arts, Sir Sanford Fleming College brochure, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up. I have taken 2, week long courses, over the past two summers, in which I carved 3 pieces. For my birthday I received a chainsaw from my husband, (who was ever so grateful for being saved from the dreaded jewelry store)! The gift was promptly put to good use, carving my 4th piece. Chainsaw carving is new to me, and I have in fact I have only ever carved these 4 pieces. I am thrilled and honoured to be able to learn from and carve with some of the best at Carv-a-Palooza!
Neil Cox
Neil was born in Ingersoll, Ontario and has had an
interest in working with wood early in life. At the age of 26, he was
making furniture in Vancouver, and a few years later began carving wood.
Neil is essentially self-taught, having apprenticed with Stefan
Vinyarszky in North Carolina, and spending six months in Italy learning
to carve marble. He has traveled widely, visiting sculptors and museums
throughout North America and Europe in order to expand his artistic
knowledge and ability. He has won several Best of Show awards at
woodcarving shows across North America. His work is primarily figurativein style and often allegorical. Neil currently lives in Toronto, Ontario
Wade Anderson, Thompson, Manitoba
Hello my name is Wade Anderson
Born and raised in Northeast Saskatchewan, near White Fox, Nipawin area, a farm boy that was raised around a logging and sawmill operation." I guess that's where that smell of fresh cut pine and spruce infected me".
Working with chainsaw's has been a big part of my life, from cutting firewood to logging and building log homes, when I was not mining.
Now I live in Thompson, Manitoba with my beautiful and supportive wife (Dora) and three boys (Ty) 16,(Brody) 13, (Owen) 12. I work underground for Vale/Inco in Nickel,Copper and Cobalt mine as a RaiseBore Driller.
Six years ago I meet Mike J.Brown from Qualicum Beach, B.C - www.chainsawcarver.ca, and the rest is history...... Thanks Mike..
For about five years now I have been a hobby carver, from my first bear that looked more like a wolf than a bear.
One carving at a time I try to improve on my skills as a carver. This will be my first Canadian Carv-a-palooza.
Al Hillis, Owen Sound, Ontario
My name is Al Hillis , I have been carving since 1992 when I came across a friend carving wood spirit faces in cottonwood bark and he gave me some hints. to date I have carved over 600 of them.Also do caricature carvings and some realistic animals and people . Chainsaw carving is still new to me and have only been able to finish 4 pieces. I am looking forward to seeing some old friends and making some new ones at the 2010 palooza!
Gary Arens, Dewitt Michigan
Trevor Chard, Trenton, Ontario
John Thomas, Newmarket, Ontario
John has been carving for approx 15 yrs, I do bird carving with power tools and knives. Two yrs ago I started to get hooked onto chainsaw carving by watching a chainsaw carver near my cottage. He told me what tools to buy and so I did and then I got started.(again more tools for my box) I picked up on chainsaw carving just by watching and practicing. Unfortunately I didn't know about any courses in chainsaw carving. Now I can't put down the chainsaw and its full speed ahead. I love carving bears and now I am venturing out to carve other things. I have also started carving totem poles by gouges and hatchet (no power tools).This winter I did my first chainsaw carving demo at our towns winter fest, lots of fun but very cold that day.
Jon Mykkanen, Republic, Michigan
My name is Jon Mykkanen, I am a life long resident of Republic, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Growing up and living in this vastly wooded area, it’s only natural to make a living working with the natural resources that surround us. For the last 34 some odd years, I have made a living with a chainsaw and a hammer. Specializing in hand scribed log homes, framed and manufactured log homes. In between construction projects, another way to make a buck has been building rustic furniture and home accessories. The real satisfaction in the whole thing was the fact that all of the products came from the woods and went to the finished product with no other middle men involved. So, thats the history lesson for today.
In more recent years, I have turned the chainsaws to carving sculpture rather than cabins. I find that I am drawn in by the challenge of a complicated cut. I truly admire the fine carvers and the works of art that they put out. I have started to branch out and attend a few of the carving festivals and events that come up. I find the carvers to be some the friendliest folks that I have ever met. I enjoy the company and the swapping of ideas. I look forward to more traveling in the US and even abroad and intend for the chainsaw to be the tool that makes it all possible.
J Mykkanen
Robert (Bob) Jenkins, Barrie, Ontario
Carving and sculpting wood for the last 30 years, has given me a great insight into most animals to which I attempt to apply my chainsaw artistry.
Starting with small decoys and songbirds, I graduated to full size decoys and ducks, competing at various levels of competition in Ontario and eventually to the Ward’s World competition at Ocean City, Maryland.
Achieving some 1st place ribbons at all levels of completion was OK, but like all things the politics of the judging got boring , so after finally getting the better of my carving mentor I stopped competing and was watching a chainsaw sculptor on TV and thought that I should be able to do that and here I am.
I was lucky enough to assist Robbin at the Haliburton School of Fine Arts during his Chainsaw course a few years back and it was a great learning experience and taught me the importance of daily equipment maintenance. Sharp saws sculpt a lot better that dull ones, and safety equipment is a must, especially for a senior like me.
Carving everyday in the Florida Panhandle during the winter helps also.
Can’t wait to see everyone at the gathering at Robbins in April.
Bob Jenkins
S.T. Thomson, From in the "bush" Coldwater Ontario
Started carving decoys and loons around 1988.
Graduated to chainsaw carving when I found out I could get more money for a carving than I could for a bush cord of fire wood and it didn't take as long and wasn't as hard on the ole body, that was 2003.
Spend my winters with my wife in Florida and take my saws to carve down there as well usually with carving buddy Bob Jenkins
The Profile of Paul R Danielski, Rondeau Park, Ontario
A local businessman of the Chatham-Kent area for the past 25 years ,living in beautiful Rondeau Park. He studied Fine Arts at Fanshawe College, pursued and experimented with many mediums. Throughout his career, Paul has accomplished;
The “Sunset” mural in Erieau
3 large mural art projects, King St. downtown Chatham, Ont.
Numerous private commissions
His art may also be found in local galleries and selected stores
CONTACT INFORMATION
Paul Danielski 519-674-3700
John Andre, Highgate, Ontario
Dennis Gibbons, Ingersoll, Ontario
Mike Winia, London, Ontario