Majestic: Frank Gindorf from Saarland transforms a block of wood into a sitting eagle. © Photo: Franziska Seliger
Wooden artworks made with heavy equipment. How to carve a sculpture out of a piece of tree trunk with a chainsaw was something that visitors to the 6th Penzberg Chainsaw Art Days, which took place at Gut Hub at the weekend, were able to experience.
Penzberg – If you wanted to talk, you were definitely wrong at the three-day chainsaw art days, which took place from Friday to Sunday at Gut Hub. The chainsaws of the 14 artists who had come to the event roared and screeched far and wide – from all over Germany and even from German-speaking countries. This was also the case with Theresa Pfeiffenberger, who had travelled from the province of Salzburg to Penzberg with her father Gerhard, also a chainsaw artist, to show visitors how a work of art can be created from a mighty piece of tree trunk using a chainsaw.
"This is the first time I've been there as a carver," the young woman said. So far, she has only ever accompanied her dad to the Penzberg Art Days. "This is where I started carving and kind of got stuck," she recalled. On the back of their car, she and her father had loaded eight different chainsaws. All with different chain and different swords. Depending on the required fineness, she uses different machines, the Austrian explained.
Debutant arrives with many ideas in his head
A few meters away, chainsaw artist Frank Gindorf was already hard at work. The fine sawdust splashes as he gradually saws out a majestic eagle from the block of wood in front of him. This year, he was taking part in the event for the first time, said the Saarlander. "I've been invited." On Friday afternoon, he didn't know exactly what other works he wanted to do on the three days of the event besides the eagle. Definitely something different every day. "I already have ideas in my head."
The fact that as a chainsaw artist you don't make large preliminary designs before venturing into the wood was explained by Georg Wallner, who had travelled from Austria with his 18-year-old nephew Patrick – also a chainsaw artist. "But carving wildly is also difficult," said Wallner, who presented his carving art at Gut Hub for the 4th time this year. Rather, you have to have an idea in advance of what you want to make from the wooden block. "Then you have to prepare the proportions for it with a coarse saw in the first cuts." "Blocking out" is what this is called in technical jargon. With a finer saw, the details would then be worked out.
Opportunity for the artists to talk to like-minded people
The fact that "you can do something so fine with such a coarse machine" fascinated visitor Anja Frietsch, who is currently on holiday in the region with her husband. Her husband carves with a chainsaw as a hobby. Therefore, of course, they should have attended the event. "I'm fascinated by the creative aspect of it. And I can relax a lot," explained Daniel Frietsch, who hoped to be able to talk to like-minded people at the Chainsaw Art Days. About different working methods and styles, but also about which object, which type of wood is suitable.
Silvia Beer had come to Gut Hub out of curiosity. She has often seen reports on television about the art of chainsaws. Now she wants to see this art form live, explained the Penzberg native.
Organizers satisfied with the response
But visitors were not only able to witness the slow creation of chainsaw art. During three rapid carving runs, they were also able to experience how a piece of tree trunk can be turned into a house bank, for example, within just 30 to 60 minutes. By the way: Some of the artists also made very special art for Penzberg over the three days. Among other things, an archway for a company as well as the future mascot "Pio" for the new family bathroom as well as a bench for the foundation in Nantesbuch.
Organizer Oliver Kugel was basically satisfied with the course of the Chainsaw Art Days. Only on Saturday, he says, could there have been more visitors. However, he assumes that he will organize the event again in two years.