Chainsaw Magic

by Jenny Chissus

Sorry for the super delayed photo story about the fabulous Chainsaw Exhibition 2012!

Here is a great combination of photos – from beginning to end – almost like you were there!  You can click here or on the image to the left to open the link for the large photo story!  Another great feature of this format is that once you click on the image – you can click on any photo in the layout and it will open a slide show format, and you can view all the photos at your own pace in full size! (Depending on the size of your screen, some of the text on the left side may not be visible – but the “whole” story and more is below!  Also, please note that there are a lot of photos and may take a few minutes to load, depending on your Internet speed.)

This Memorial Day chainsaw competition was a little different from the previous years.  Due to a myriad of scheduling conflicts (a move out-of-state, opening a new gallery, moving a shop/workshop across town, building a home, etc.) many carvers weren’t able to make it to our event this year.

We were thankful that three great carvers joined us this summer, Ben & Silas Firth (2nd year), Jimmy Kitchens & Carisa Curtis (5th year) and Rob Younkins & Deveyn LaCroix (3rd year)!

Due to the small participant size, we modified the event to be an exhibition, rather than a competition.  We also changed it up a bit, as we offered to give the three masterpiece carvings to the carvers this year to keep or sell as they please.  The past 6 years,  the Chamber has kept the carvings – which are displayed at businesses all about town – over 34 of them!

This year, the People’s Choice Award went to Rob Younkins and Deveyn LaCroix for the swimming otters around the piling – named “The Pole Dance”!  Rob has a great sense of humor!

The carvers had a great time in spite of the rather chilly weather!  Many spectators would come by (in spite of the cooler days) a few times a day to check on the progress of the carvings, take pictures and admire the beauty being created from our local spruce!

This event has brought many visitors to town, and helped to create a “Kick Off” weekend of events for Seldovia, with the Human Powered Fishing Derby, a concert sponsored by the Seldovia Arts Council, and a Start of Summer SVT Community BBQ at Outside Beach!

Thank you to all the wonderful folks and businesses who support the event annually through a myriad of services and goods!

Thanks to the City of Seldovia who offered the site and helped with the set up of the logs.  Jim Hopkins who donated logs, moved logs and is an all-around helpful guy!  To Mike Webber and Sonny Chissus who maintain the site and who are on-site during the competition to assist the carvers with whatever they need!  To the Fuel & Lube who donated oil and gas for the chainsaws, and HEA who generously supplied power for the event!

Thank you so much for the generous gifting of lodging for the carvers and their families:  Jerry and Suzie Stranik with Alaska Waterfront Cabin & Suites, John and Paulie Carluccio from Central Suites B&B and Dave and Peggy Cloninger from Seldovia Fishing Adventures!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

We also had a TON of help providing food for the weekend from the Bridgekeeper’s Inn, Chamber of Commerce, Chissus’, Crabpot, Giles, Hurleys, Linwood Grill, McCords, Perry’s Cafe, SVT & the Tidepool Cafe.

And another thanks goes to the Seldovia Village Tribe and the Seldovia Bay Ferry who provided the transportation for the carvers and assistants to and from Homer and Seldovia!

Thanks so much to any others that offered their support during the event!  If you enjoy this annual event, and would like to be a part of the 2013 Chainsaw Carving Competition Committee, please give Sonny or Jenny a call (234-8000) as we would love to have some new folks assisting with next year’s competition!

Editor’s Note:  There was a noticeable difference in the amount of visitors to Seldovia this Memorial Day weekend, and I believe one major factor was that AMHS didn’t come to town for our “Opening Weekend.”  It seemed as though many folks who come to Seldovia for their start to summer, bringing vehicles, tents, bikes, etc. weren’t able to make it this year until after Memorial Day!  If this affected you in a negative way, please contact AMHS and let them know!  We certainly want to make sure we are on the schedule next year for our Memorial Day Festivities!

Tags: chamber of commerce, exhibition, Memorial Day, Seldovia, Seldovia Alaska, Seldovia Chainsaw Carving Competition, woodcarving

Category: Editor's Favorites, Entertainment