Thank you, gentlemen. The sculptor is of Cherokee Indian heritage, which shows in his work. Many of the folk-art sculptors of wood in the Great Smoky Mountains perform their work with chain saws of assorted size, some of the smaller saws having tapered blades designed specifically for carving. This artist also works in the traditional way -- with hammer and chisel.
It will be interesting to see the end result. I have no idea what it will be, having given the sculptor complete artistic control of the project. I did, though, hear some reference to an owl or an eagle or both. I gathered that, since the artist had discovered and given form to the the tree's "spirit," he will be working as that "spirit" directs. When it comes to such matters, I have found that it is often best simply to stay out of the way.
