Project Eco-Art MA Provides New Chainsaw Sculpted Landmark

November 21st, 2009 -- Holliston, MA – Friday afternoon at the local high school was unlike any other as Master Chainsaw Sculptor “The Machine” Jesse Green buzzed and sawed away at a six foot tall stump in an effort to create a unique identifier for the model town in Metro West Massachusetts.  Holliston was one of dozens of planned stops for Project Eco-Art Massachusetts, which aims to create a trail of chainsaw sculpted landmarks to stimulate local economies and raise eco-awareness. 

Holliston is the second town to receive a Project Eco-Art Sculpture since the project launch in October.  Mr. Green is a Holliston native and was eager to give back to the community that helped inspire his interest in Art.  High School Principal Michael Cournoyer helped coordinate the activities and was excited to host one of the events. 

Industrious Holliston High Juniors, Brittany Burke and Abby Parker, escaped from their AP European History class to research and collaborate with Mr. Green on the theme and design of the sculpture.  Their research yielded several ideas but in the end, the team concluded that "The Holliston Panther" had grown to become the most universally appreciated theme among the town's people. 

"For decades now, the town has really rallied around identifying itself with the panther, so we embraced that. I've also added a tablet which will have the towns incorporation date scrolled onto it so that people know that it is a sculpture for the whole town" Green said. 

Hundreds of students were exposed for the first-time to the unique form of art and cheers were frequently heard as various elements of the completed piece were exposed with the skillful cuts and strikes from the artist’s enormous Chainsaw.  Principal Cournoyer later said; "I've never seen so many teachers be willing give up their instructional time in my two years here. It was a great event!"