Artist Turns Dead Trees Into Family Tribute

As a chainsaw carver, Caledonia artist Sherry Lou Martin has let her style rip.

Her latest piece in Oak Creek saved two trees from becoming firewood and became a tribute to a husband.

The inspiring carving at the corner of Estates Place and Austin Street (near ) came to Martin by chance. Last year, Oak Creek resident Delores Riemer lost her family's two 50-year-old ponderosa pines. The trees were originally found on the roadside by Riemer and her husband, James, as sapplings during a trip in northern Wisconsin.

No one knows the cause of death for the once-large green trees. What was known was Riemer's devotion to keeping her family trees.

"The two ponderosa pines were a staple of her marriage," Martin said.

When the trees died last fall, it had been 30 years since James Riemer passed away. "Delores was very adamant that she didn't want the trees to be cut down and used as firewood," Martin said.

Instead, Riemer wanted to dedicate the trees to her marriage. After witnessing chainsaw demonstrations at the Wisconsin State Fair, she set out to find a local carver. To her dismay, finding a willing and affordable carver was no easy task.

Months later, Riemer learned of Martin's work from a family friend. By this time, Martin started a sub-group of her art company, Chix with Chainsaws, after doing chainsaw demonstrations in Racine.

"I call it Chix with Chainsaws because men watch and say 'That's a chick with a chainsaw,'" Martin said.  "That's how it stuck." Now she sports a pink Chix with Chainsaws T-shirt whenever she carves in public. 

When they were discussing the project, Martin and Riemer (who couldn't be reached for this story) knew the trees were destined to be animals.

"There is a stigma about chainsaw carvers making bears," Martin said. "I asked her what she thought about eagles. She looked at me and said, 'My husband loved eagles.'"

From there, the trees became a five-day carving project. By splitting the work into three- to four-hour days, she safeguarded her back and allowed Delores to sit on her porch and watch the piece take shape.

Delores wasn't the only one watching. Her neighbors, local law enforcement and postal workers watched Martin work.

"I was amazed at all the people who came into the neighborhood to watch," Martin said.  "By the end of the project, I was standing on a ladder working on the birds and I heard a school bus' brakes. After that all I heard was children screaming 'Yay!'

"Then the driver parked, came up to me and said 'It's a really neat and fantastic thing you are doing.'"

Martin's work was completed earlier this month. Today, passers-by can view the Riemer family tribute, at 300 Estates Place, and see one tree with a mother eagle and the other with a proud father eagle and American flag.

"As an artist, I was excited to do this for her. She is the sweetest pea you could ever meet," Martin said. "I started the project by going to her house and asking questions. I want to hear what they want, and I incorporate their thoughts into the project. She loved being a part of the work."