Chainsaw Chix draw crowd

By Alicia Rimel

Published: August 7, 2008

Donnie Seal, 62, had an eye-opening experience Thursday at the Augusta County Fair.
“I’ve never seen a woman run a chainsaw before,” the Waynesboro man said during the 4 p.m. Chainsaw Chix competition. “And they’re pretty aggressive. I’ve used a chainsaw before, but nothing like they’re doing – especially for an hour and a half. They’re obviously in good shape.”
Seal watched intently as four women patiently carved into 5-feet, 4-inch cylinders of white pine – chainsaws roaring.
Observers were few at the beginning of the show, scattered behind a large black net to block wayward chunks of wood. As the show progressed, curiosity got the better of the crowd, heads turning toward the noise – and the women with the power tools.
“Instead of a paint brush, these girls are using chainsaws to create a masterpiece,” explained Jen Ruth, sculptor’s agent for Masters of the Chainsaw and Chainsaw Chix.
Based in Pennsylvania, “The Chix” – as the performance artists refer to themselves – are a women’s division of Masters of the Chainsaw, which began in 1992. The organization is the only of its kind completely dedicated to chainsaw art.
For the past year-and-a-half, the women have traveled the country performing at promotional events, grand openings and festivals like the Augusta County Fair.
The Chainsaw Chix hail from across the nation – and the globe. Uschi Elias, of West Germany, flew to Virginia for the first time to participate in the fair.
“I live in a house near a forest, so I started with a chainsaw just cutting wood,” Elias said. “And then I saw a chainsaw artist and I thought ‘Wow! I want to do that!’ ”
During the competition Thursday, the women were required to sculpt a wildlife-themed piece – for which the winner received about $3,000 in prize money.
After an hour of work, swans and bears began to peek from the once formless chunks of lumber.
The women also completed an aquatic-themed “quick-cut” sculpture on a smaller piece of wood, taking just an hour to finish.
“We came to see this,” said Julie Cressman, 51, of Fishersville. “We were going to come anyway, but when we saw about this, and we came to see them.”
Ruth takes pride in leading the first team of female chainsaw performance artists.
“These women are very well respected in our business and I’m proud of each and every one,” she said.
The Chainsaw Chix competition will continue starting at 4 p.m. today between the barn and Midway