CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Ken Tynan and Damian Skal are trying to carve out an annual tradition in Butler County.

The two Butler natives have organized the second annual Butler Chain Saw Carving Invitational Friday through Sunday at the Butler Farm Show Grounds.

The event will feature 24 carvers from across the country cutting logs into finely detailed works of art.

Tynan of Butler has been a professional wood carver for 15 years and has traveled the world participating in carving events.

He wants to bring that experience back to Butler to show residents the craftsmanship behind the trade.

“You'll be able to see art created quickly,” he said. “A violent tool like a chain saw can be finessed through wood to act like a paint brush. It's great.”

Tynan said he carves a variety of subjects, ranging from animals to a statue of Capt. Davy Jones, which stands at B and B Motors along Route 8 in Center Township.

Recently Tynan completed a 22-foot-high Statue of Liberty in Tennessee.

“It took about three weeks to do,” he said.

Skal, a nurse in the Butler Health System, said carving is more of a hobby for him.

“I'm a weekend carver,” he said.

Skal said he and Tynan have been friends since childhood. He became motivated to start carving after seeing Tynan participate in an event six years ago.

“He said if that knucklehead can do it, anyone can,” Tynan said.

Both men said this year's invitational will be bigger than last year's inaugural event that drew 3,000 people. This year the event will include live music, food and beer.

Items carved at the invitational will be auctioned off at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday.

“If you're a fan of this kind of art, it's a can't-miss event,” Tynan said.

There also will be more attractions for children, Tynan said, including an inflatable bounce house.

Carvers will come from as far as Washington and Oregon. There also will be a woman carver from Germany in attendance.

Tynan compared Butler's event to another chain saw carving festival in Ridgway, Elk County.

Skal said the Ridgway event is larger but is more of a social gathering for carvers.

“We pay our carvers, so we get the cream of the crop,” he said. “The carvers we have are hand selected.”

Skal said there are six world champion chain saw artists scheduled to cut.

“It's an amazing event,” Skal said. “There are phenomenal sights and sounds, as well as the smell of cut wood.”

The invitations will help raise money for organizations.

Tynan made a special military piece that will be auctioned off to support the It's About the Warrior Foundation.

He also carved a wooden bench that will be auctioned off to support the Butler High School football team.

“In return, we get all the football players to clean up afterward,” Tynan said.

Proceeds from beer sales at the event will go to the Art Center in Butler.

Revenue from the event also will help the Sky Spirit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Harrisville, which helps injured wild animals.