Dying tree at Library becomes work of art

Mayor Doug Lee had a different vision, she said. He had seen chainsaw wood sculptures and wondered about the possibility of preserving a part of the tree as a work of art. City officials reached out to Dayton and Michelle Scoggins of ArtistryInwood, of Heidelburg, Mississippi.

Scoggins is an award-winning chainsaw sculpture artist who has spent a lifetime carving and established his Artistryinwood business in 2002, according to his website.

Lee said the real impetus was cost. A bid to take down the tree, leaving a stump, was $6,500. Removing the stump would have also meant tearing up sidewalks and damage to the decorative brick wall, adding more cost to the project.

Lee had seen the wood sculptures along Hwy. 90 and wondered what an artist would charge. The city and Scoggins struck a deal. If the city (with county help) could take the tree down to where about 12 feet was left standing, he would make a carving for something a little less than $5,000, a price that included his motel and meals.

The chainsaw sculpture depicts an eagle perched upon a stack of four books. A bookworm is emerging from one of the books with a bear cub climbing up the stack. The books are labeled The Holy Bible, The State of Mississippi, George County and the City of Lucedale in descending order.

When finished, the sculpture will be treated with a wood preservative. The sculpture will last indefinitely as long as it is properly maintained, Laura Maples said.

The wood sculpture joins a second original sculpture at the library.

At the front entrance is a 9,000 pound granite, original sculpture of a woman reading to a child. That sculpture was done by the late Jim Corley, meant to commemorate Corley’s grandmother, Alma Lumpkin. She was George County’s first librarian and held that post for 31 years.

Scoggins at work with his chainsaw has drawn crowds of spectators, including several classes from the schools.