Work is underway at the Loggers’ Jubilee Arena in Morton on a brand new “Big Ole” lumberjack statue, with cutting and sculpting being performed by wood carving and chainsaw artist Jacob Lucas of Bonney Lake.
Lucas was commissioned by the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Committee to create the new statue.
The Chronicle met with Lucas at the arena on Tuesday, May 20, as he began his work amid overcast skies and intermittent rain. While he wanted to start work over the previous weekend on Sunday, rain delayed his start.
“I got all my measurements down and I think I’ll be able to knock it out pretty quick,” Lucas said.
A cedar log is being used for the new “Big Ole,” which was donated by the Thornton family’s Pleasant Valley Ranch. Jim Severson, of Severson Road Contractors, hauled the log to the arena for free, according to the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Facebook page.
While the old “Big Ole” lumberjack statue is still standing, the statue’s base was beginning to rot, prompting the need for a new one. The rotting base was removed, and the old “Big Ole” statue has now been relocated to the arena, where it still stands.
Plans are in the works to get a new log for the base, along with construction of an awning over the old “Big Ole” to help protect it from the elements, according to Lucas.
“The new Ole will be out by the highway and the old one will be here in the arena,” Lucas said.
During his wait to start on the new “Big Ole,” he finished another project for the Loggers’ Jubilee Committee — refinishing and repainting the Loggers’ Jubilee sign which accompanies “Big Ole” at the entrance to Morton coming off U.S. Highway 12.
Aside from taking commissions for art, Lucas also frequently competes in many regional wood carving contests, including the annual Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championship in Reedsport, Oregon.
“Reedsport is the biggest on the West Coast. I took third place last year, and I took first the two years before that, and then second the year before that,” Lucas said. “So I’ve been in the top three the last four years.”
He added that wood carvers come from around the world each year to compete at Reedsport.
Lucas himself has been carving wood statues for 20 years now. His work can also be found in other Washington communities, including Bridgeport, Leavenworth and where he lives in Bonney Lake.
Lucas invited anyone who’s interested to come observe his work on the new “Big Ole” statue throughout the rest of this week at the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee Arena, located at 451 Knittles Way in Morton.
To learn more about Lucas’ art, visit his website at https://jacoblucascarving.com/.
