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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US Chainsaw Art – Adams
HEADLINE: Chainsaw art: turning tree stumps into masterpieces
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 09/12/2024 at
BYLINE: Maxim Adams
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Falls Church, Virginia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Andrey Degtyarev
VIDEO EDITOR: Andrey Degtyarev, Anna Rice
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs, Aru Pande
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA News + Agencies TBD
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV __ RADIO __
TRT: 3:29
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TV/PKG
))
((INTRO:))
[[What is Art? It’s an age-old question: is it paint on canvas, ceramics or sculpture? The fun part is -- art can be anything – and can even be created with a chainsaw. That’s the medium of one artist from the U.S. state of Virginia. Maxim Adams has the story.]]
((NARRATOR))
Forget paintbrushes - Andrew Mallon is making art with his
((Mandatory courtesy: Fairfax County Government + YouTube Logo))
chainsaw, transforming old tree stumps into masterpieces.
He has created over 150 wooden sculptures, most of which are in parks and
((End courtesy))
((Mandatory courtesy: Andrew Mallon))
the private yards of his neighbors in northern Virginia.
Mallow says his aim is to liven up places and add a little magic to them.
((End courtesy))
((Andrew Mallon, Artist)) ((ENG))
“Whenever I finish a project, you can really step back and see what an impact it makes on the neighborhood or the community around it. And everybody gets a lot of joy out of it!”
((NARRATOR))
Jeannie Reimers says Mallon is helping her transform her yard.
((Jeannie Reimers, Falls Church Resident))
"Because of these wires, the electric company would come through and shave up one side of this tree… And it made everything else fall this way. So, one of the tree people told me, ‘You should really take the tree down!’ And I said no. And I took a picture of it and sent it to Andrew, and he said, ‘Have them cut it above the notch, and then I’ll come and talk to you!”
((Andrew Mallon, Artist)) ((ENG))
"This tree that I’m working on today is going to be five or six different chickadees…”
((NARRATOR))
Mallon says he really began woodworking in 2012. Back then, he worked as a carpenter and during his free time started carving small figurines from old pencils. Soon enough, Mallon decided to go big... and bought his first chainsaw.
((Andrew Mallon, Artist)) ((ENG))
"Chainsaw carving is kind of like brain surgery. You have to be really careful with everything you’re doing, you have to really control this big machine.”
((NARRATION))
Today he works with 10 different chainsaws, grinding machines, cutters and chisels. Mallon says he does 90% of the work with a chainsaw. The largest one smooths out the stump, then he goes smaller and smaller for the more detailed work. He finishes off with a torch to dry off the wood, then sands the sculpture and puts a protective coating on top.
In 2016, Mallon founded a company called AM Sculptures, and his passion has become a business. Each sculpture he makes costs between $3000-$5000.
His talent has taken him around the world,
((Mandatory courtesy: Andrew Mallon))
and he has competed in numerous competitions and a Discovery channel TV show called A Cut Above, where 12 artists fought for victory, armed with chainsaws and creativity.
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((Andrew Mallon, Artist)) ((ENG))
“The chainsaw carving world has really opened up a lot of doors for me.”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory courtesy: Andrew Mallon))
Mallon says he is doing what he loves and has become an important part of the community.
((End courtesy))
((Andrew Mallon, Artist)) ((ENG))
"[[I made]] a really large castle years ago on a corner lot
((Mandatory courtesy: Andrew Mallon))
of somebody’s house. And kids come by every day, they put little figurines on it and they play…”
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
In the future, Mallon dreams of creating a sculpture garden where visitors will be able to admire his work all in one place.
((Maxim Adams, VOA News, Falls Church, Virginia))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 15, 2024 15:19 EDT
BylineMaxim Adams
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
