Viking and Longboat Benches - Ramsey, Isle of Man
Posted by: 
Mike_bjm
N 54° 19.258 W 004° 22.774
30U E 410269 N 6020111
The Viking and Longboat Benches are a chainsaw sculpture by Nick Barlow at the entrance to St. Pauls Square in Ramsey, Isle of Man
Waymark Code: WMTWNP
Location: Isle of Man
Date Posted: 01/15/2017
Views: 2
The Viking and Longboat Benches were a privately funded project for Nick Barlow in the summer of 2016.
The Viking is life size (approx 6 feet high), he has long flowing hair and a full beard. He has a spear in his right hand a small Shield in his left hand. He also has a sword hanging from his belt.
The Longboat Benches each have Dragon figureheads with scrolled tails at their sterns.
Nick Barlow is a Tree Surgeon from St. Johns, Isle of Man, as so was more used to felling trees than preserving them. But he took up the unusual art of chainsaw carving, transforming dead trees into works of art a few years ago.
Nick has sculpted everything from wizards to wildlife, and his huge wooden sculptures are becoming an increasingly popular part of the Manx countryside.
"It is massively physically and mentally challenging, any cut could ruin the entire thing. You have to have a lot of patience, attention to detail and a bit of imagination" says Nick.
Nick says: "Everyone thinks being a tree surgeon means you love cutting down trees but most of us have a soft spot for them. For me the carving is a progression of that. Rather than a tree coming down and being burnt it can be transformed into something new."
Nick first tested his skills as an artist by carving a face into the trunk of a tree belonging to his friends Sue and Gary Quilliam.
"It gave me a big boost of confidence and they asked me to carve a wizard out of a dead oak tree in their garden."
The 12 foot high wizard now sits by the roadside in Sulby Glen and has become an attraction in its own right.
Sue Quilliam says: "There's been a massive amount of traffic along this road with people just coming to see the wizard. It's becoming a tourist attraction. I'd wanted it done for eight years but to find both artistic talent and chainsaw skills is unique. He's incredible"
"It's something I would like to make my profession. I would love to do this day in day out." says Nick
Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/isleofman/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8890000/8890367.stm
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Viking and Longboat Benches
Figure Type: Combination of two figure types
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Nick Barlow
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 2016
Materials used: Wood
Location: St. Pauls Square, Ramsey, Isle of Man
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