Jim (Chuck) Niedermayer, a resident of Silver Falls for over 45 years, appreciates those who have fallen in nature and, through his artwork, gives them a second life. His canvases, of course, are trees. His work will be featured on August’s upcoming Boreal Shores Art Tour.
Neidermayer first found his passion for chainsaw wood carving in the late 1970s. During an intermission break of a television show featuring a saw-cutting competition, a man started with just a block of wood and a chainsaw.
“Nothing was showing until he kicked the block and all the parts fell off, then there was a chair, and I fell in love,” said Neidermayer.
From then until 2007, Niedermayer mainly carved chairs. If there was a nice tree, he would make it into that. In 2007, however, the world of wood carving opened up for him. He began to work on more complex carvings, using symbolism and things in nature that were meaningful to him.
In 2010, Niedermayer posted pictures of his work on an internet forum, where wood carvers could view them.
“I was pretty worried overnight about what they would say,” he said. “They told me if I could get down there to Pennsylvania, it would be worth it and that if I just started, I was doing pretty good.”
So, Niedermayer went to Pennsylvania for the Ridgway Chainsaw Carver Rendezvous, where 165 carvers from all over the world gathered to share their art and expertise. From there, Niedermayer’s work took off, and he began to reach his potential in new ways.
“I learned so much. I think it really helped me out after that.”
“My father was a knife maker and chisel carver, but basically, I am self-taught. Back when I started, I’d never really heard of anybody else chainsaw carving,” shared Niedermayer. “I’ve been going to competitions and chainsaw events all over. It’s a small world where everybody knows everybody else. I just returned from Southern Ontario, where I was at a timber fest with some of the top carvers across Canada.”
Two bears carved by Niedermayer now sit happily in an antique 1929 Ford truck
Currently, Niedermayer mainly works on carving trees that have died in people’s yards in Winnipeg. Each project usually takes around three days, whereas a more recreational project at home might take longer and last a few weeks. Jim uses a variety of wood for all his projects but finds himself carving elm most often. When it comes to projects in people’s yards, most of those trees have died from Dutch elm disease, and Niedermayer is happy to make something of them.
“I enjoy doing that because you get to meet people and sometimes you’re just going down the street carving trees.”
When asked what he enjoys carving the most, Niedermayer refers to his other career, growing and harvesting wild rice, which he has been doing for about 40 years. While harvesting on Manitoba’s lake, he witnessed things in wildlife that later inspired his carvings.
“I like carving things that are symbolic to me. Because of the wild rice, I’m in the bush a lot. Beavers, eagles, owls, herrings, pelicans; I like carving things like that.”
Though he participates in several competitions all over the country, to Niedermayer, it is not so much a competition as a gathering of community: “I think you’re competing with yourself only. I always tell everybody that if I ever get it right someday, I quit. You never get to a point where you’re totally happy with what you’re doing, you’re always working at it. It’s almost like golf; you’re just trying to improve yourself. To get out at carving events, everybody inspires everybody. We’re all supportive of each other. Even though it’s a competition, if somebody has trouble or a problem, we all help with it.”
This community of carvers is growing, according to Niedermayer.
“It’s growing and it’s growing fast. A lot of people are getting into carving. They’re watching us carve and saying, ‘Hey, I could do that too!’”
To him, carving is an art, sport, and entertainment. His process for each project involves leaving the wood to dry so it will lighten and improve the detail, then burning the wood and applying a sealer, and sometimes painting it with a dry brush or using stain. This process, for Niedermayer, ends when it feels right. “I tell everybody it’s never finished; it’s only abandoned.”
Through his projects, Niedermayer gives new life to a resource that would otherwise be thrown away. The carvings are highly valued art pieces, ranging from $200 to a couple of thousand dollars, depending on detailing and size.
“All of these trees that have died due to either Dutch elm disease or some other reason will otherwise just be put in the landfill,” he said. “To me, it’s giving it a new purpose and honouring that tree that shaded us all these years.”
Niedermayer volunteers for a chainsaw carving event held in Pine Falls during Labour Day weekend. The four-day challenge attracts carvers from all across Canada, including the father-son duo from the television series Carver Kings.
In addition to these and the competitions he attends, Niedermayer has carved in many different cities. The city of Moose Jaw hired him to carve at their central park a few years ago.
“It was kind of a joint venture from the city and the art gallery. They had some trees that died and picked carvers from across Canada to come carve them.”
He has also sold some of his work to Sean Penn for his movie “Flag Day,” shot in Manitoba.
Neidermayer’s biggest supporter is his wife, Joanne.
“She helps me at carving competitions, doing all the sanding. She knows what tools I need next and hands them to me.”
For those interested in catching some of Niedermayer’s work can participate in the journey of this year’s Boreal Shores Art Tour. This tour is a self-guided art experience that was first founded in 2017. It features artists from Eastern Manitoba, from Sandy Bay to Falcon Lake and many beautiful locations. Alongside Niedermayer’s wood carvings on the tour will be works of glass, pottery, photography, sculpture, sketches, paintings, beading, and more.
This is Niedermayer’s first year as a Boreal Shores artist and being featured on the tour that is the largest of its kind in Manitoba.
“I’ve been asked a few times in the past, and I couldn’t do it because I’ve been off at competitions,” he said. “I have a shop here with a fair amount of carvings, and I wanted to keep some on hand for the tour.”
The Boreal Shores Art Tour is on Aug. 17 and 18. More information about the tour, the artists featured, and its history can be found online at borealshoresarttour.ca.
