Chainsaw champ Roy Brown.

Ever think, “There just aren’t enough events that involve chainsaws?” Well this debut event will hopefully be the first of many to come. Diana Peterson, executive director of the Logging Camp, is one of the chief organizers. She says the idea began when Greg Childs carved a piece for the museum on their 75th anniversary. With the help of sculptor Jamie Doeren, carvers from around the world agreed to start the event. “We hope it will be either an annual or semi-annual event,” Peterson said. The competition will feature 10 renowned carvers from the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Japan, each creating a large sculpture over four days. Local guest carvers will create smaller pieces at the same time. Along with chainsaw-related fun, there will be other activities, including presentations by Bill Jamerson, a singer/songwriter who performs historic stories and tunes. A barbeque dinner will be held Thursday with an opportunity to meet artists and ask about their craft. Because chainsaw sculpture is a young art, it is often thought of as log-shaped bear carvings. But Peterson says the form is actually incredibly complicated and intricate. Artists will begin carving Thursday morning and finish at noon on Sunday, where the top three places will be awarded. After judging, all pieces will be auctioned to the public. So if you’re looking for the next up-and-coming art form in the Valley, this might be it. We guarantee there will be more than bears.