Anthony Martin displays the lizard sculpture that he carved at the Campbell River Shoreline Arts Chainsaw Competition.
Anthony Martin is a friendly, well-spoken man who lights up when he talks about how he turned a challenging life experience into a positive and creative force in his life. He recently became a chainsaw artist who creates realistic and detailed sculptures from large, raw blocks of wood. Each piece he works on can take up to a week or more.
“I really started carving seven months ago when a professional carver, Shea Larking, invited me to his place in Cowichan. He spent a day with me and helped me carve an owl and a bear. His support helped me tackle my first big piece, a 12-foot alligator. I am proud of it. It was hard work and a challenge physically, but now I am addicted,” he says smiling.
Martin sustained a work injury just over a year ago. He started carving as “something to do” but quickly found that he loved it. It is both a creative outlet and a way to focus his energy. It has also become a way to meet other people, connect to community and for him to grow personally.
“I work with cedar and the logs can be expensive, but many people I have connected with have been willing to donate wood. I am also working on gathering the tools. You have to have different sizes of saws to do the cutting and detail work,” Martin says, gesturing with hands that have evidence of his labour, large and callused, with both new and old scars.
Encouraged by Shea, in June 2019, Martin entered the 23rd Campbell River Shoreline Arts Chainsaw Competition, a five-day annual event that is held on the shores of Willow Point. The competition brings professional, semi-professional, amateur and novice carvers, men and women, from across B.C. This year, 15 contestants, plus a few additional professional carvers who act as mentors and judges, participated (you can watch a video of them in action here).
“It is rewarding to work alongside self-advocates and watch them grow,” says Brita Hall, CLBC facilitator. “Anthony has turned a difficult situation into something positive and rewarding. It was a huge step for him to leave town for three days on his own and to make so many new friendships.”
Martin entered the novice category. Originally, he had planned on doing an alligator but decided to do a smaller piece for his first competition, a lizard. In preparation of his design, he researched reptiles in a local bookstore, keeping his plans in his head, not on paper. With his tool bag in hand, and machine oil, paint and a piece of yellow cedar provided by the competition, he was ready for the contest.
Carved from yellow cedar, Anthony’s lizard sculpture was auctioned off to a successful bidder in Victoria. Anthony is investing his share of the proceeds into new carving tools for future creations.
“It was the first time I worked with yellow cedar. It is a little harder than red cedar, which is what I have been carving. I had to figure out how to work with it while trying create my design,” he says, his expression communicating that was both exciting and a little daunting.
Over three days in June, Martin and other contestants worked on their carvings, starting at 7 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. stopping only to eat or take small breaks. They finished their carvings by noon on the fourth day, when judging took place. As the only novice in the contest, Martin’s piece was not judged but it did go up for auction and was sold to a Victoria man for $525. Martin received 75 per cent of the proceeds, which he would like to invest into new carving tools.
“I was nervous to enter the competition. It was my first time doing something like this, but I met a lot of good people and made a lot of great connections and saw how different carvers do their work. I am definitely going to enter the competition again next year in the amateur category.”
Martin also expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Shoreline Arts Society in Campbell River. The group sponsored his meals, travel and accommodation. His only cost was his entry fee. Their support made it possible for him to participate in the event.
“We are a non-profit society and money raised comes from grants, sponsorships and donations to keep the carving event free for the community,” says Don Daniels, president of the Campbell River Shoreline Arts Society.
The carvings from this year’s competition are on display all summer long at Willow Point in Campbell River. In Fall, the carvings will be delivered to organizations who have made at least a $1,000 sponsorship contribution to the event.
Anthony (back row, far left) and fellow carvers worked side-by-side on their creations over three full days at the 2019 Campbell River Shoreline Arts Chainsaw Competition (photo courtesy of the Campbell River Shoreline Arts Society).
