A cut above: Dozens of woodcarving artists in Cole Harbour this weekend

Dozens of artists are in Cole Harbourthis weekend for the Atlantic Carving Show and Competition.

The Nova Scotia Wildlife Carvers and Artists Association is holding its annual event at Cole Harbour Place. More than 50 carvers are participating with more than 160 pieces entered, according to event chair Junior Gosse.

"Some of these carvings that we have here this year are just phenomenal," he said.

The artists are from all over Atlantic Canada and parts of Ontario, Gosse said.

Artists had a year to finish the pieces that are being displayed inside. Four artists using chainsaws competed against each other in the parking lot outside.

Goose saidthey started in the morning and had seven hours to finish their piece.

"We're actually generating more people to come in and carve because it was a dying art," said Bob Smith, president of theNova Scotia Wildlife Carvers and Artists Association.

Smith saidtwo artists are competing in the youth category for the first time and one of them won first place in one of the competitions.

"We have some pretty nice carvings that have been entered by youth who have taken a piece of wood and carved it and painted it," Gosse said.

"We're very community-oriented," hesaid. "We have a club that meets once a week duringthe winter ... and if you have the interest we'll teach you how to take a piece of wood and carve something out of it."

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