Live Chainsaw Wood Carving by Colin Vale

Visitors can appreciate live wood carving demonstrations by Colin Vale (“Carving Colin”), an artist from Maryland who transforms wood into large-scale sculptures using a variety of tools, from chainsaws and flamethrowers, to angle grinders and chisels. Vale learned the fundamentals of carving from Tuki, a true master who carries on Easter Island’s tradition of carving small wooden moai, which resemble the iconic ancient giant stone figures of ancestors of the Rapa Nui.

Live Chainsaw Wood Carving Demonstration Schedule

Sat., Feb. 24 -- 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 25 -- 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 2 -- Noon–4 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 3 -- 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Linden Oak Bench

In collaboration with Montgomery Parks

Colin Vale recently created a sculpture for Montgomery Parks made from a salvaged branch of Montgomery County’s landmark Linden Oak—a 300-year old white oak tree, the largest in Montgomery County—that died in 2022. The Linden Oak sculpture will be onsite at REACH to FOREST. Vale hopes to inspire people to look into the past to grow into the future.

Read the Washington Post article:

A 300-year-old tree was cut down in MD. A wood sculptor transformed it.

Colin Vale

Colin Vale is a professional chainsaw sculptor based in Olney, Maryland. He is known for his large-scale sculptures that explore themes of inclusion, community, and self-actualization. His work is exclusively made from dead trees, and he is committed to creating art that is accessible and sustainable. 

Vale has installed his work at Jake’s Treasure Beach, Jamaica, two parks in Atlanta, Georgia, and Brookside Gardens, in Wheaton, MD.

Vale is passionate about using his art to make a positive impact on the world. He believes that art can be a powerful tool for social change, and he is committed to creating art that inspires people to think critically and to engage with the world around them.

www.carvingcolin.com