Chain saw artists carve wood into works of art

Daily Herald Staff Writer
By Scott Ray
Saturday, April 30, 2005

The rumble of chain saws and smell of sawdust filled Echo Inc.'s corporate campus Friday as some of the country's best chain saw sculptors transformed wooden stumps into works of art.

The Lake Zurich-based company, specializing in design and manufacturing of outdoor power equipment, held the event to showcase its new Echo Carving Team and raise a little money for charity.

The team's five sculptors from California, Washington, Indiana, Marengo and downstate Quincy transformed stumps of white pine into owls, hawks and bears over the course of four hours.

Bob King of Edgewood, Wash., molded his 8-foot thick tree trunk into three hawks perched on a long slender branch and finished off the piece by burning the wood to accent the detail of the hawks' feathers.

Indiana native Jason Emmons had a harder task, drawing a thick, small stump. He transformed it into a detailed sculpture of an owl.

R.D. Coonrod of Quincy got a little more creative by making his log a detailed wooden bench with eagle heads acting as arm rests.

Mark Colp from California sculpted a bear and a hawk, while Mike Bihlmaier of Marengo created a grizzly bear.

All pieces were looked over and judged by Lake Zurich Mayor Jim Krischke.

"When I was asked to do this I really didn't know what to expect," Krischke said.

But Colp's piece caught Krischke's eye because of its resemblance to Lake Zurich High School bear mascot.

It will be displayed in the village's board room until June 11. Then it will be auctioned off to the highest bidder to raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life program. The national organization is devoted to cancer research.

The remaining sculptures will be raffled to Echo employees throughout the week. Those proceeds will also benefit the Relay for Life program.

In August, members of the Echo Carving Team will participate in wood carving events in Washington, Pennsylvania Marengo and Quincy. Some will also participate in international competitions in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Marengo carver Bihlmaier said he will also do carvings at this year at Harvard's Milk Days and the McHenry County Fair.