Carving at Sculptree

Why carvers like the event

“Sculptree isn’t like other carving events. It’s not just that the timber is bigger; that we have more time to work on it, or that the auction prices are higher to represent the scale and ambition of the sculptures. It’s like a club. Sculptree is hard to get into, there are no guaranteed places, and it demands the best. But once you’re in, you can make something that you simply can’t make anywhere else.

Carving at Sculptree

Most shows give you a day and a half to bash something out, and often this time includes ‘speed-carves’ which, though entertaining and often financially rewarding, really eat into the energy needed to put into your main piece. At Sculptree we have a full seven days of uninterrupted time for working on carvings of a complexity and sophistication that it is simply impossible to consider at any other event. The logs are consistently huge, coming from the arboretum, and encouraged by the other carvers, you push yourself to work to the very best of your ability. The event encourages the best work from the best carvers, and achieves the best prices.

The auction proceeds are divided roughly 50/50 with Tree Aid. I have always felt that the work that Tree Aid does is incredibly important, especially as we start to see the effects of Global Warming. But also, that they earn their share. Swarms of volunteers man the Gallery, manage the auction and sort of run the event, not to mention all the behind the scenes work that they do in marketing etc. There is always someone on hand to make the show work. It just feels right that the profit from the show goes to somewhere where it is needed.”

Ant Beetlestone, Sculptree carver and Sculptor liaison.

How to apply

In January Westonbirt Arboretum invite interested Sculptors to send in a design with a description of any special considerations for the carving, and a bit about yourself and your carving history. A panel of judges choose the 12 successful designs and those carvers are invited to carve at Sculptree in the following August. To be enter a design for Sculptree 2011 please email info@treeaid.org.uk and we will add you to the list and send more details. Good luck!