Chetwynd BC hosts a chainsaw carving festival.  The artists draw lots to determine which red cedar log they will get to work with.  Over the next 3 days they spend 35 hours creating absolute masterpieces in unbelievable detail.  Wildlife and First Nations peoples are the most frequent subjects.  Some carvers go for technically accurate and life like and others have a more whimsical bent.  There is even some fantasy and sci-fi stuff along with some very not-friendly-looking dinosaurs.  The workmanship is amazing and the pieces (135 so far) are scattered all along the streets of this little town.

While their main work is being judged, the artists do a 1 hour speed carving.  Those pieces are then auctioned off.   I bet I could find one that would suit our someday cabin!  I’d love to see the actual carving happening but the 2014 festival here in Chetwynd is not for another 10 days and we are moving on tomorrow.  I suspect there is something similar in the Appalachians; I need to check that out.