13 Amazing Wood Carving Of Animals And Figures By Sculpture Artist

Every tree experiences its own cycle of birth, growth and decline. Once a tree dies, it is often cut down and carted off to the wood chipper. Sometimes, though, nearby woodcarvers will come along and use their chainsaws and grinders to preserve trees and what they represented in people’s lives.

Canadian Tree Sculptures: The west coast of Canada is well known for its totem poles; the ultimate in tree carving sculptures. Typically, west coast totems are carved from western red cedar using adzes, chisels, axes, carving knives, and more recently, chainsaws. Totems represent family legends and lineage, are used as memorial markers, to commemorate events, and also come in handy to help hold up ceremonial longhouses. Everything from the choosing of the specific tree, to the raising of the totem is sacred and is duly celebrated via ceremonies. And after years of the government trying to assimilate First Nations peoples, and take away their cultural customs.