Trees lost in the derecho being carved into statues at Rock Creek State Park

A conversation between a man and his son following the derecho sparked an idea that is now being carved into the history of Rock Creek State Park.

The August derecho hit the Kellogg park hard as many mature trees were blown down or damaged in the intense wind storm. Brian Brunk and his wife, Andrea, own a home near the park and experienced the derecho themselves. Shortly after the storm, Brunk and his 9-year-old son Cameron walked around the park and were devastated by the loss of trees because of the beauty and shade they had provided.

Brunk said his son wished there was something that could be done to salvage even a small portion of the large, mature trees that were lost. Brunk’s next idea would spark a project that would do just that.

“I said, I wonder if we could get someone to carve some of these trees before they get burned up into something beautiful for the campground. (Cameron) said that’s a great idea and I took that idea and went to Facebook and reached out to see if anybody knew someone who carves and somebody recommended Gary (Keenan) who does all of the great work out at the (Iowa) State Fair,” Brunk said.

When Brunk contacted Keenan, he was willing to sign on to the project because the park was his “old stomping ground.” He grew up on his family farm in rural Kellogg and spent some time at the park as a kid.

“When we were kids, we did a little bit of fishing and camping there. My parents went to Victor Grange which was close by there, and we used to have grange breakfast. The Grange Camp was also close by there but they’re no longer there. I go back a long way with that area,” Keenan said.

With the chainsaw artist on board, the project needed approval through park officials. Brunk worked with park ranger Kory Kinnick to get the green light from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“We talked, when we had the original idea. I said ‘I think its awesome, let me contact supervision in the DNR, see if they’re OK with it.’ As long as it was wildlife scenes, the DNR was on board. That’s kind of what we consensused to,” Kinnick said.

Brunk also worked with the Friends of Rock Creek State Park to help raise funds for the project. He was blown away by the people who were willing to support the idea.

“Thanks to all of the Friends of Rock Creek Board members and the donators who put for the funds to get these art pieces completed. And of course to Gary as well,” Brunk said.

Keenan examined the downed logs and identified four pieces of an oak tree to be good candidates for the chainsaw sculptures. Kinnick had hoped to also include some of the remaining maple tree stumps in the project but Keenan warned soft maple wood would not have the same longevity as oak.

Park staff cut the logs into the size Keenan wanted and then moved them to an area of the campgrounds where he will have the flexibility to work on each piece. Four sculptures are planned and all include wildlife that can be seen at the park. The first two statues carving has been completed depicting a blue heron and a larger-than-life perched eagle. Brunk and his son were able to visit Keenan as he was working on the first sculpture and see their idea take shape.

“It’s everything I hoped for and more. It’s just so beautiful. Gary does incredible work,” Brunk said. “I can imagine,” Brunk’s voice broke a little as he spoke, “Sorry, I get a little emotional talking about it, I can envision hundreds of kids taking pictures with their parents, you know.”

After Keenan finishes all four statues, they will need to be placed in a covered, non-heated facility in order to give them proper time to dry. Once the drying is complete, they will be sealed with urethane statin to preserve the integrity of the image.

The placement of the statues has yet to be decided.

“We haven’t 100 percent decided on that. We’re looking at high traffic areas, maybe one down by the concession area, one or two at the campground area and then maybe one by the south end area but the boat accesses,” Kinnick said.

Kinnick said he likes that a use has been found for some of the trees lost in the derecho. Some of the trees are original to the park and have been standing there before the park was even thought of.

“To see some of those come down is kind of an end of era. To see them get repurposed into something that can then continue on I think makes a significant contribution to them,” Kinnick said.

The department has issued a lot of firewood permits to help find uses for the fallen trees, Kinnick said that is something they have always done in the past. For example, they tried to find uses for the ash trees they had to remove because of the emerald ash borer.

They also try to find a use for the wood that doesn’t simply end in a pile of ash.

“We do have a gentleman who is collecting some logs. He’s a woodworker and a carver and he makes duck decoys. We have another gentleman that is grabbing some logs, he makes furniture and he’s going to try to make some furniture out of them. It’s been really rewarding to see that we’re not just going to burn them and the wood is just going to go up in smoke,” Kinnick said.

As the project moves on, Brunk is so appreciative of everyone’s involvement to help get the ball rolling. He is thankful for everyone who donated funds and especially to Kinnick and Keenan for their work to make the idea a reality and “to make lemonade out of lemons.”

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Chainsaw artist Gary Keenan cut into large oak log as he prepares to transform it into an eagle statue at Rock Creek State Park in Kellogg. The statue is making use of some of the park's fallen trees from the derecho. (Pam Pratt)

About the Artist

Gary Keenan found the art of chainsaw carving essentially by accident. He said he has always had an appreciation for art, particularly sculpture and had an instinct it was something he could do himself.

About 20 years ago, a friend was telling him about a chainsaw carver at the Iowa State Fair. Keenan had heard of it but had never seen it done.

“I said yeah I think I could do that, and they essentially laughed at me. They said I have a log out here and if you have a chainsaw why don’t you bring it over and carve something. And I did. It was very crude and rough but I was intrigued with the process and I started playing around with it on the weekend and it just took off from there,” Keenan said.

He spent the next three years carving as a hobby and then he quit his job and has been sculpting full time ever since.

Keenan is one of the principal chainsaw artists at the Iowa State Fair every year. Other than that job, most of the other work he completes is commissioned by people or organizations, most of whom have a dead or dying tree they want him to turn into an art piece.

His body of work mostly includes wildlife and animals because that is the most popular request people make out of him. Bears in particular are a very popular animal for him to carve. He has also completed human figures as well with images of Native American being the most popular among that group.

“There have been a few abstract pieces but abstract is about the rarest. I kind of enjoy the deviation from wildlife,” Keenan said. “I enjoy something a little more artistic too.”

His favorite project was completed last year in the Chicago area. Just as the city was going into lock down, he was in Jackson Park working the “Transformation” sculpture the Chicago Parks District commissioned him to complete. It’s near the area where the Obama Presidential Center is expected to be built.

The tree that was chosen was an ash tree that had been killed by the Emerald Ash Borer. “Transformation” is about 16 feet tall, and Keenan has nicknamed it “The Green Lady.”

“She’s a woman made up of leaves and vines and grass,” Keenan said. “(It) was entirely of my own creation. ... We had to sketch and submit ideas and they got chosen on that basis. So that was entirely of my design and it was a little bit more artistic.”

Keenan’s work can be viewed on his website carvingbykeenan.com or on his Facebook page.

Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com