Chainsaw Sculptures

Imagine our surprise when we we rounded the bend to visit East Beach on our way back to Low Head Pilot Station to be greeted by the vista below. We had gone for a walk and thought we might find a kiosk or little shop near the beach. There in front of us was this strange grouping of tree stumps, only so much more attractive!

We had previously found a chainsaw sculpture on King Island. Prior to this we may have been vaguely aware of such an art form and perhaps in Tasmania with it's abundance of trees, it's more mainstream. Anyway, Eddie Freeman is a superb practitioner and demonstrates his skills annually at the Royal Hobart Show. It is an art form he developed over a period of 30 years and the most favoured timber he uses is Macrocarpa and Radiata Pine. There are a number of examples of his commissioned works at Legerwood, Cambpell Town and George Town and in subsequent drives around the Tamar district, we've spotted a few more here and there.

Eddie freeman's work at Legerwood is particularly poignant where a small community commemorated their 7 fallen WW I soldiers by planting some trees; one for each man. When in 2001 it was discovered that the trees needed to be cut down, Eddie Freeman was commissioned to create a new memorial to the men using the tree stumps of the memorial trees. If you follow the link, you can read all about it.

This grouping of sculptures or is that a 'stand' of sculptures, is inspired by the ocean and included mariners, a beacon/lighthouse, a surfer with sea life (dolphins, whales, penguins etc..) and a couple of sea eagles feeding their chicks in high up nests. With the exception of the ship and mariner, all the sculpting was done in situ.

This was a marvelous find and despite looking, we could find no evidence of any signage directing people to this site. Furthermore there didn't appear to be any interpretive storyboard ... this lovely piece of work 'JUST IS' and is almost more enjoyable for the surprise it delivers!