Isn’t it adorable when the New York Times, the most citified of city papers, discovers a rural phenomenon that’s been going on for decades and decides it’s a new trend?
This story, A Canvas of Wood, Chain Saws as Brushes, was teased by the Times this way: “As the popularity of chain-saw carvings increases, the man who claims he invented it is still carving strong after more than 50 years.”
So…you’re doing a story about chainsaw art. Because it’s suddenly popular. Because one guy in a touristy part of Maine is doing it. My guess is that a Times reporter was up there for vacation this summer, had never seen such a thing, and thought she’d pitch a story on it.
Please, people. This roadside art is ubiquitous at least throughout the Northwest, and probably across the country. You can’t drive 15 miles in any forested area of California or Oregon without seeing a collection of wooden bears rearing up on their hind legs. When I was a kid, there was always some local guy touching off a shower of sawdust and woodchips while carving a mountain man or grizzly in a store’s parking lot.
But now the New York Times has brought it to the upper crust, and they can chortle over the story with their morning bagels and lox. Isn’t that cute? Maybe we should get one, dear.
This story, A Canvas of Wood, Chain Saws as Brushes, was teased by the Times this way: “As the popularity of chain-saw carvings increases, the man who claims he invented it is still carving strong after more than 50 years.”
So…you’re doing a story about chainsaw art. Because it’s suddenly popular. Because one guy in a touristy part of Maine is doing it. My guess is that a Times reporter was up there for vacation this summer, had never seen such a thing, and thought she’d pitch a story on it.
Please, people. This roadside art is ubiquitous at least throughout the Northwest, and probably across the country. You can’t drive 15 miles in any forested area of California or Oregon without seeing a collection of wooden bears rearing up on their hind legs. When I was a kid, there was always some local guy touching off a shower of sawdust and woodchips while carving a mountain man or grizzly in a store’s parking lot.
But now the New York Times has brought it to the upper crust, and they can chortle over the story with their morning bagels and lox. Isn’t that cute? Maybe we should get one, dear.
(Photo of Firewood Farms in Half Moon Bay, Calif.)
4 comments:
That carver still has his shop in Arnold. Going strong selling to tourists. For those who have never been here, Arnold is a town as well as a governor.
And a drink!
and a golfer.
and a restaurant
and...more?
Our father has a bear, a pig, and a leprechaun bench in his back yard.
See, maybe the New York Times should do a story about him.
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