ohn
Kolanach has been doing artwork all his life. Born and raised in Elmira,
NY, he graduated with honors from SUNY, New Paltz. Historically he has
concentrated in drawing and painting, woodcuts, etchings and 
airbrushing;
occasionally doing sculptures in clay, porcelain, polyester resin and
fiberglass.
He has commissioned pieces throughout the eastern states, and has had one-man exhibitions. Locally he has exhibited at the Arnot Art Museum, The Wilson Gallery, and The Everson Museum of Art and through the Chemung Valley Arts Council at the Baron Steuben Place. He has also done set backdrop designs and artwork for the Elmira Little Theatre and the Elmira Corning Ballet. A large commissioned oil mural by John is displayed in the Elmwood Baptist Church in Elmira Heights, which is on a grand scale of 18 feet by 20 feet.
Upon moving to the country on 35 acres of oak and hemlock in Catlin, NY 5 years ago, he fell in love with wood sculpture. While clearing and doing some landscaping, he decided to leave a tree at 13 feet high and started his first chainsaw carving: a Totem Pole. In his words:
At the top
is a Bear who looks more like a tiki-god (the 1st carving) and it took
three days), the next is an eagle who looks more like a vulture
(Out- stretched wings mortised in), next is a wolf (that looks like a
dog), and on the bottom is an owl winking at you (and it actually looks
like an owl)" 5 weeks total from top to bottom and a great amount
of dexterity with the chainsaw was achieved. I found a new medium to work
in….
The power of the chainsaw and the smell of the wood are unequalled in creating artwork and I can't get enough. I can work in any weather and get a lot of exercise as well.
Over the
past 4 years he has done wood sculptures for numerous people, 34 pieces
to include (bear, wolves, a pelican, a whale, an angelfish, a salmon,
ducks, beaver, lizards, a turtle, a hummingbird, a butterfly, a bull,
deer, snakes, a dragon, etc.…..), pets, furniture, shelves, fireplace
mantels, urns for pets (carving of pet on top), totem poles, etc.