August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
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While walking around Chetwynd and enjoying the beautiful chainsaw carvings, I couldn't help but notice some magnificent murals. I had to go over to the Visitor Centre and ask for more information about these lovely paintings!
Many local businesses have been decorated with paintings depicting variations on the town's mural theme - "Historically where we come from". There are wild animals, trains, trucks, and even some dinosaurs depicted in the various images. Most are painted, but a few are made of broken tile mosaic - the Visitor Centre staff told me they were made by local high school art students.
My favourite is this one, which is on the side of the Peace FM building along the North Access Road. It depicts the history of the area right back to the dinosaur times! I really liked the blue people in the paintings.
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
View a larger image on flickr.com
The little giant has been Chetwynd’s Mascot for over 40 years! Working for the tourist information centre I always see people stopping and taking pictures with him.
One winter day Megan and I thought it would be fun to be tourists in our own town! We started out by taking pictures with all the carvings and thought it would be a good plan to pose with our Towns Mascot!! The Little Giant was great to snap some pictures with because he even had the Olympic torch with him!! It was a great way to enjoy one of the warmer, sunnier days of Chetwynd’s cold winters.
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
View a larger image on flickr.com
The First time I saw the “My Blue Ocean” by Chris Foltz was the second day into the championship, and right then and there I knew it was going to be my favorite! All that was going through my mind was wow look at all that detail! Who knew the next day it was going to look even more magnificent.
All this detail and hard work sure paid off for Chris though because he placed 3rd in 2010 Championship and also won Peoples and Carvers Choice awards!
This breathe taking piece with all its detail and is even better when you can stand there and look at every piece carved! All the carvings are wonderful but by far the Octopus is my very own favorite.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
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Late this June, I had the great good fortune to be at the Chetwynd Visitor Centre when the new carvings from the 2010 Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship were delivered to their new homes!
Each year, the Visitor Centre changes the carvings displayed along the walkway on both sides of the building. I had noticed that the gardens looked a bit empty, and boy was I excited to see this truck and trailer rolling in with several brand new carvings on board!
With a "beep beep beep" came the loader, the straps went around the carvings and they were skillfully maneuvered into their new homes. These 12 new pieces will stay at the Chetwynd Visitor Centre until next year, when they will find new homes around town and make room for the 2011 carvings to be displayed at the Visitor Centre.
August 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Art Galleries & Artists
View a larger image on flickr.com
Some friends of mine were visiting from southern BC, and I wanted them to have an authentic Chetwynd experience! So we all piled into the car and headed down to the Chetwynd Visitor Centre, where we signed up for a free guided walking tour of some of the local chainsaw carvings.
Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She told us all about the history of the carving project and answered all of our questions about the chainsaw carving championship. I was very excited to learn that almost all of Chetwynd's chainsaw carvings are made of cedar, but a few are made of lodgepole pine which had been attacked by mountain pine beetles - what a great way to showcase local forest products!
I thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour and would recommend it to anyone. My friends loved it too! Here's a photo of their favourite carving - my dad says it reminds him of an old cartoon character, Sgt. Preston.