Post #226130 by J.S.G. on Tue, Apr 11, 2006 7:37 AM

Hi Bigbrotiki. I will look for your book in Sept. How exciting!

I'll post pictures of Ken's work and Mike's later on in the day, once I figure out how to on this forum. Yes, I did go thru some old newsletters of The Cutting Edge, a journal by The Cascade Chainsaw Sculptors Guild, the 1993 issue Mike says he was turned on to chainsaw carving in 1957 when a friend showed he a picture of a tiki carved with a chainsaw. In the early 1960's he read an article on a company in Washington State that was creating furniture with it. That gave him the idea one could actually make money with the tool. He eventually started carving on the shores of Eel Lake, Oregon, with an ax, in 1959, his father recommend he use a chainsaw. Ken Kaiser, wow, amazing sculptor, he did not do much furniture, but his work at the Trees of Mystery is Northern Calif is incredible. He created 80 large redwood sculptures in a span of 6 months. And they are good! It has poetic magic behind it, like he was possessed by the muses beautiful madness. A brief history of Mike and Ken are in my book... perhaps you would like to trade books? For Your first book of Tiki's? My book is doing pretty good (according to the publishers)l, Chainsaw/Power Carving Events is big right now...we should have a Tiki Theme Chainsaw / Power Carving Contest, wouldn't that be fun.

I did a bit a research on Bill ... sounds like he was from Washington State and his book was printed in Mt. Vernon, Washington. So the wood he used was not Swamp Cedar. (Being a wood carver myself )The wood is Western Red Cedar. The same wood that the native totem carvers of the Northwest Coast have used for thousands of years. Tiki's and totems are very similar. What is your opinion? Or what is the definition for tiki?

This is forum is great... a whole new world of Tiki's is opening up for me. I'll have to carve one.

[ Edited by: J.S.G. 2006-04-11 08:50 ]

[ Edited by: J.S.G. 2006-04-23 17:41 ]