The Good Life – September-October 2018

The Good Life caught up with the lively, creative Dave Belling,
“Chainsaw Dave,” to hear about his chainsaw wood and ice
sculptures, his military service and philosophy of life.
This Fargo and Erie, ND native, has created many ice and
wood sculptures around the region. And, yes, he literally
creates them using his chainsaw.
A man with many stories, Belling’s trajectory moves from
a North Dakota childhood to Marine Corps service in
Afghanistan, to directing public works departments, and
now, creating sculpture on his own terms.
Belling said, “I made my first wood sculpture when I
was 15. I thought I could make a German shepherd out
of this log. I did it, although it probably looked more
like a gargoyle, and I thought I had invented chainsaw
sculpture!”
Belling’s mother and father split when he was four
years old: “I grew up between YMCA and The Ridge.”
He dropped out of high school when he was 16 and
worked for his family’s tree service business.
Belling went into Marine Corps boot camp at San
Diego, CA on August 27, 2007. Belling’s military
service was in Afghanistan as a Corporal: “For the
first six months, I was in a fire cell – fire support
coordination center – where we would target
individuals. The second six months we took the
heartland from the Taliban.”
He received a Navy/Marine Corps medal for building a
compound by himself. He also appeared in the Marine
Corps magazine.
Belling then was a combat marksmanship
coach at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
at Parris Island SC, teaching young recruits
how to shoot effectively: “It was one of the
best things that I have ever done. I guarantee
that I decreased combat fatalities from
training those kids. I would also tell them that
with power comes great responsibility.”
After returning from Afghanistan, he and his wife
divorced: “I tore down my house and converted
my garage into something like a camp.” Like many
war veterans, he went into the woods for a “sense of
security.” He continued, “I worked hard, and simply,
then and sent all of my money to my ex-wife and
daughter.” urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25