The Good Life – September-October 2018

Belling now wants to use his influence “in a more
positive way.” Belling sees much potential in our
children: “Our current system is alarmingly failing
our children. As adults, it is each and every one of
our obligation to make a positive impact on our youth.
They are our future. ”
Belling wants to start a Chainsaw Dave’s Youth
Camp to “put our energy into helping kids become
good people: to let kids know they can be small
business owners, they can be rock stars! Let me be
your paradigm of hope. You do not have to follow
the traditional path.” He envisions it as a 2-week
boot camp and is looking for community partners or
grants to help.
Belling also worked in two different North Dakota
towns in Public Works for three years. As head of
the public works department in Stanley, Belling said
he quit due to a “good old boys network.” But after
leaving: “I knew it was time to pursue my art.”
Before he left the position in Stanley, Belling had
“promoted the eradication of Dutch Elm Disease
by writing and receiving two $20,000 ‘America the
Beautiful’ grants.” He described the second grant was
“to replant flowering trees.” He added, “Sometime in
the next ten years, I am going to go with daughter,
Evelyn, on my chopper” and they will see the flowering
trees that resulted from that planning.
Of chainsaw art: “I had this undeniable magnetic pull
to do it. But somehow, between my work, marriage
and military, I always had to put it on the back burner.”
He added, “Chainsaw art has been my vent to help me
through PTSD and suicidal thoughts which a lot of
veterans experience.”
One of his favorite ice sculptures is one he created on the
Veterans Memorial Bridge linking Fargo and Moorhead:
“On one side there is a Marine struggling against a
wall. And on the other side is a wife/mother and a child
putting up a wall.” It reflected his personal experience.
He added, “I want people to know that although I fought
in the war, I am an ambassador for peace.”
Another favorite was a guerrilla piece he did in front
of Dempsey’s next to the painted bison. His friend,
Brandon Yellowbird, modeled for an ice sculpture as a
“proud Native American man two hundred years ago.”
Belling froze an ice arrow to the bison.
Belling is excited about his future. He and his partner
are expecting twin boys this month – planning to name
them Davidson Young Belling and Haakon Taylor
Belling. Their nickname is already “The Beastie Boys”:
“The future of the free world lies in Evelyn, Davidson
and Haakon’s hands.”
As a next step, Belling wants to do a podcast “Confessions
of a Chainsaw Artist: Chainsaw Dave Worldwide.”
26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com