An artist uses common things at their disposal to create their works of art...like paintbrushes or their hands.
But a Mathews High School grad uses something that's dangerous enough to kill him if he uses it wrong, even for just a second.

"My buddy has a tree service so we take the trees and make art out of them," said Shawn Seminara.  He is a 1987 graduate of Mathews High School and he recently donated one of his wooden creations to his alma mater.

He calls the 8-foot high carving, Eclipse, all made from chainsaws of different sizes. It took about a week to complete.

"I'm still learning as I go. I only picked up a chainsaw a little over a year ago. I've had a couple of kickbacks, knicks on the legs here and there. It's dangerous. You have to wear eyewear, all that protection," added Seminara.

It weighs about 800 pounds. The bottom part is oak.

"The top part is cottonwood, a little bit of a lighter wood. It comes apart in the middle. It's bolted down and there's a part carved in the base for a time capsule. The kids are going to put a time capsule in it next year," said Seminara.

The plan is for the kindergarten class to fill the time capsule and open it when they graduate.

"It's just phenomenal. We couldn't get over the detail, the attention to detail. Such a nice way to memorialize our school," said Mathews Superintendent, Russell McQuaide.

Shawn does all kinds of carvings with chainsaws. He usually finishes them with a little bit of fire and stain to preserve them.

His favorites?

"I did a 10-foot bigfoot and a 10-foot grizzly bear. I think the bear might be an inch or two taller. Those are fun, the big ones!"

Shawn worked in Hollywood, then Las Vegas but during covid, he just wanted to come back home. Now he's back doing what he really loves.