Chainsaw art takes shape at Kindersley gallery

By Joan Janzen

Devon Coles is always up to something new at his gallery in Kindersley, and his creative ideas don’t stop while he’s on vacation.

On a recent trip to the lake, he returned home with two unusual treasures: fallen logs destined to become chainsaw carvings.

Devon Coles stands with two wildlife sculptures he is creating from fallen logs using a chainsaw at his Kindersley gallery. The carvings, salvaged from trees at the lake, are still a work in progress. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN.

“I brought home a couple of treasures from the lake,” Coles said. “From a raw log to a new studio buddy. The material is readily available because there are so many fallen trees.”

Armed with a chainsaw, Coles is transforming the logs into wildlife sculptures. He has already invested at least five hours into each carving and estimates another five hours of work will be needed to complete them.

While most people see a fallen tree as something to cut up and haul away, Coles sees an opportunity. With skill, patience and a chainsaw, he is giving the weathered logs a second life as works of art.