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Unique art, rocking music on display at Whittle the Wood

Festival’s final day takes place Saturday at Loudy-Simpson

Andy Bockelman
Audience members can't help but dance to the music of country act Buckstein Friday evening at Whittle the Wood Rendezvous in Loudy-Simpson Park.
Andy Bockelman
2017 Whittle the Wood Rendezvous 7:30 a.m. Pirates of the Yampa River Race at Loudy-Simpson Boat Ramp 8 a.m. Sixth annual Wake the Whittler 5K and One-Mile Fun Run 9 a.m. Carving continues All day Arts and crafts and food vendors, beer garden 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 13th annual Bear River Young Life Car Show and Fundraiser on Yampa Avenue 10:30 a.m. Pirates of the Yampa Poker Run at Pebble Beach 1 p.m. Quick Carve Competition 1:30 p.m. Performance by Four 2 Play 3 p.m. Performance by Jeffrey Alan Band 5 p.m. Carving winners announced 5:30 p.m. Performance by The Samples — All events take place at Loudy-Simpson Park unless otherwise noted. A $5 cover charge for Saturday’s events is included for ages 13 and older. Coolers are allowed but not alcohol. No pets or bicycles will be allowed in the park. A shuttle is available every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday from The O.P. Bar & Grill, JW Snack’s, Mathers Bar and Kmart. For more information, visit whittlethewood.com or follow the event on social media at Facebook.com/whittlethewood with #2017WTW.

Faces are taking form, bodies taking shape and the rest of Whittle the Wood Rendezvous moving into its final stages.

The big finale is Saturday for Craig’s premier event, complete with the voting for the top woodcarvings, festive events throughout the day and multiple musical performances at Loudy-Simpson Park.

The 11 chainsaw artists who are the stars of the event have been working since Wednesday on this year’s entries, a mixture of nature depictions, pop culture nods and other imaginative displays.

Stump 1 — Ken Braun, Chimpanzee from “Planet of the Apes”

Stump 2 — Bongo Love, African river god and giraffe

Stump 3 — Matt Ounsworth, Animal totem

Stump 4 — Joe Srholez, Snake and apple

Stump 5 — Joe Wenal, Lizard eating a fly

Stump 6 — Robert Lyon, Animal totem

Stump 7 — Damon Gorecki, Bench with Native American faces

Stump 8 — Chad Stratton, Snoopy and Woodstock in doghouse airplane

Stump 9 — Jim Valentine, Soaring eagle

Stump 10 — Doug Moreland, “Buffalo” Bill Cody

Stump 11 — Robert Waits, Foxes and bluebirds

Among this year’s artists is first-year competitor Doug Moreland, from Manchaca Texas, who has spent the week crafting the likeness of frontiersman and showman “Buffalo” Bill Cody, taking his inspiration from Colorado itself, which serves as the legend’s final resting place.

“Just being out here, I figured I should do something Western,” he chuckled.

A longtime carver but a newbie in the contest, Moreland said he was looking to get away from the humidity of Texas and enjoy the atmosphere out west.

In addition to getting to know his fellow carvers, meeting the many residents who roam the park for the attraction has been great.

“Everybody’s been very polite,” he said. “They’ve really fed us well, great food out here.”

Back in town for the 10th time, Lafayette’s Bongo Love, originally from Zimbabwe, reflected the heritage of his homeland in his entry. A dragon-like creature protecting a giraffe is Nyaminyami, a deity celebrated as the guardian of the Zambezi River.

“I had a small log to begin with, and I realized I could make something unique, something I’ve never done,” he said.

Though he had to change his original carving plans, he’s happy with the result, a feeling he said he always experiences during the event.

“Craig has changed my life,” he said.

While carvers have either finished their work entirely or will be putting the finishing touches on pieces Saturday — as well as joining the Quick Carve Competition — the action of Whittle the Wood is far from done. Friday saw performances by Denver’s Buckstein entertain the crowd, with Craig’s own Black Mountain Riot as the opening act.

Performances by Four 2 Play, Jeffrey Alan Band and The Samples will make up the Saturday setlist.

Katelyn Goad was busy taking in the sounds of BMR, who performed covers of such songs as “Everlong,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Born to Be Wild,” “Eye of the Tiger” and other rock hits in the afternoon sun.

Simultaneously, she strolled along the avenue of carvings set up in the park, one of which was a vividly green lizard carved by Joe Wenal, snatching a fly with its tongue.

“I like the detail on it, it’s really creative,” she said.

Originally from Rifle, Goad has made it a point to catch Whittle the Wood each year.

“It’s in a park, it’s in beautiful Colorado, all the artists and all their creativity in their sculptures, I love it, it’s such a unique place and a unique festival,” she said.


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