By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Planning a visit to Wimberley? Be sure to check out the dead trees at Ino’z restuarant.
That’s where you’ll find chainsaw art that is transforming dead wood into visual masterpieces.
When a pair of huge old Cypress trees didn’t survive the drought, Tom Keyser, owner of Ino’z, wanted to do something with their trunks rather than discard them.
His idea? Chainsaw art.
After months trying to find the right person for the job, Keyser said he finally found Craig Johnson, who was referred to him by some friends.
Craig Johnson, chainsaw artist, turns dead trees into art in Wimberley.(Photo by Paula Pulley) |
Knowing the only had one shot, Keyser asked Johnson for his portfolio. After seeing what the artist did with a discarded telephone pole, Keyser knew he found the right guy.
He explained his vision to Johnson of incorporating elements of the community into the artwork. One of his creations is the result of having many Texas Longhorn fans in the area. (Keyser said another tree with a Texas A&M theme is in the works.)
Another tree commemorates a large grey goose, Duck Duck and her mate, Goose Goose, who lived on the property. Both vanished from the Ino’z property last summer.
Johnson lives in the Wimberley Valley and supports himself as a handyman. But his true passion is art. He has been carving projects for the past decade and creating chainsaw art for about three years.
Keyser said he is now displaying some of Johnson’s carvings in the restaurant and yes, the art is for sale. Apparently the word is spreading because Johnson received requests for custom pieces.
