Charles Arnoldi

From 1981 to 1992, Arnoldi used the chainsaw as his primary tool. He began by carving and gouging small, solid blocks of wood. Then he painted them bright, intense colors and hung them on a wall.

Content with the dramatic mark-making quality of the tool, Arnoldi decided to try it on a larger scale. He had sheets of plywood laminated together and then painted the surface. Using the chainsaw like a paintbrush or pencil, Arnoldi "drew" contours, shapes and lines, by subtracting from the wood, rather than adding to it. Throughout his work with wood, Arnoldi's visual vocabulary allowed the natural texture and appearance of the wood to remain.

Although the chainsaw pieces have seemingly little to do with the long-standing tradition of painting, the extremely physical process is similar to that of action painters in the 1950s and reflects the intensely emotional, visceral quality that art often possesses.