10. SkulpturenRausch Rauschwitz

Chainsaw Art as a Sport

Speedcarving — fast sculpture art with a chainsaw — is a relatively young discipline that has spawned competitive formats worldwide since the 1990s. In Germany, there is the German Speedcarving Championship, which consists of several qualifying events throughout the year and a final. The SkulpturenRausch in Rauschwitz has been an officially recognized qualification for years — scoring points here contributes to the championship.

Garden of the Senses — An Extraordinary Setting

The venue makes the festival special: The 'Garten der Sinne' in Rauschwitz is a private, artistically designed garden with old trees, a stream, and sculptures from previous events. Christian Schmidt — initiator and main organizer via cS-Design — has cultivated the garden over years and makes it available to carvers and visitors for the SkulpturenRausch. Work with chainsaws takes place here amidst oaks, beeches, and sculpture remnants — a unique atmosphere.

Two Competition Rounds, Auction at the End

The competition format is standardized: In two competition rounds, carvers create sculptures within a limited time. Wood is assigned randomly (max. 60 cm length), each carver can use a maximum of four chainsaws and one carving stand, no paint, no electric tools except battery-powered chainsaws — 'chainsaw-only'. Afterwards, the finished sculptures are auctioned — those who want to take an original sculpture home can bid. Points and ratings contribute to the German Speedcarving Championship standings.

Rauschwitz, Saale-Holzland, and the Countryside

Rauschwitz is a very small municipality in the Saale-Holzland district, about 20 kilometers east of Jena. With barely 100 inhabitants, it is one of the many small villages that characterize the rural landscape in eastern Thuringia. The fact that an official qualifying event for the German Speedcarving Championship takes place here is thanks to the local initiative of Christian Schmidt and his cS-Holz-Design. The SkulpturenRausch attracts carvers from all over Germany and Austria — and for one day, turns a small village into a center of chainsaw art.