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Businessman’s chain saw carves out new
career
Submitted by Marilyn and James Lukinich
A little boredom turned into a roaring artistic success for ex-logger James
Lukinich of Alpine. Using a chain saw, the owner of the White Wolf Tree
Service now coaxes charming designs out of wood. Fanciful birds, appealing
bears, clever alligators and other creations quickly take shape.
Making the first cut is the hardest part for Lukinich. “I just sort of look at
(the wood),” said the accomplished wood sculptor. “Pretty soon I see something
in there, a little animal or something. Yesterday I did a gorilla holding a
parrot.”
Lukinich and his wife, Marilyn, sold their farm in Palisade, Colorado and
relocated back to San Diego County. The couple is quickly becoming known in
East San Diego County for community involvement.
Lukinich said he thinks of his work and his art as another way to do more with
nature’s bounty. White Wolf Tree Service specializes in difficult tree
removals, lacing and reducing the crowns of trees. Through skillful talent,
Lukinich has learned how to extend the shortened lives of fatally diseased,
burned or beetle-killed trees. “I recycle the wood; try to carve something out
of a dead tree,” he said. In addition to his creative work, Lukinich also does
custom carvings on site, such as totems, mantels and furniture.
Hobby expands
Born and raised in the upper Northwest, he began wood carving for the first
time when he was in his late teens. Lukinich later became a logger, topping
giant trees in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.“That’s where I started (chain
saw) carving. I was just bored. The first thing I carved was a dynamite sign.
We had a dynamite shack.”
What began as a hobby, carving gifts for family and friends, has since become
a professional skill that helps communities and a part-time career for
Lukinich. He has become known during the past five years in Colorado, New
Mexico and Arizona through the craft show circuit. His sculptures cost $300 to
$4,000.
Lukinich is now entering contests. In June he placed in the top third of 33
professional competitors in the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting
Championship. The toughest thing he’s ever carved, Lukinich said, was his
“Enchanted Forest” entry ---- 19 animals on one log ---- in a five-day contest
in Colorado.
Accepted as a working artist and member of the Spanish Village Artists Guild
in San Diego’s Balboa Park, Lukinich will be one of the featured sculptors
demonstrating at “Art Splash 2009” on Sept. 26-27 in Carlsbad.
Carves for community
Lukinich has been generous with his talent for demonstrations at this year’s
first Alpine Tree Town USA Celebration on April 25, as well as at area fund
raisers and other events.
At the Alpine Tree Town USA event his chainsaw demonstration and art display
showed another way to recycle severely damaged trees.
Lukinich donated a 6-foot-tall silver-tipped gorilla to Lions, Tigers & Bears
for its May 2009 fundraising auction at “Wild in the Country.” The sculpture
took him almost seven hours to carve and brought in about $1,200. A carved
bear setting a butterfly free that Lukinich donated to the Kiwanis Club of
Alpine for their “Vintage Alpine” May 2009 silent auction raised money to help
children in San Diego County.
The artist said he will probably continue creating chainsaw wood art “until I
can’t pick up a saw any more. Then I get to stay home and whittle.”
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