4MILE CARVING COMPANY
Barney wasn't always carving...
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In fact, he only picked up this medium quite recently.
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Here's the story...
This journey started back in 1993. After graduating from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York with a degree in metal engineering I was seemingly on a pathway toward a career in metal fabrication.
Due to increased demand, I soon was moving into the realm of limited edition bronze castings for the majority of my work. As the years flew by, I found myself amongst an elite group of wildlife sculptors, winning world wide accolades and awards and headlining in top art shows and galleries in Scotland, England, Europe & the U.S.A.
However, my path soon turned towards a different sort of metal fabrication, sculpting "one of a kind" birds, fish, and other wildlife out of stainless steel.
"Double Clutch"
Eagle and Hare
Barney Boller - 1997
Then in 2003, things took a sudden turn when my 73 year old dad was faced with an aggressive terminal cancer.
I chose to quit, and spend the last six months of my dad's life at his side.
Barney with his father, Christoph Boller.
An artist and gifted potter.
Fast forward to 2020 or thereabouts. I had moved up to the Adirondacks in 2015, and was working as camp director in the town of Ohio NY.
After some encouragement from my wife, I tried my first chainsaw carving, a big bear, and was surprised -all things considered-how well it turned out. Over the next year, I carved a few more wood spirits and other smaller critters, but was not really very serious about it.
Then in April of 2022, I began carving in earnest, trying to build up a big enough body of work to show at a local show-"Woodsmen's Field Days" in Boonville New York. It turned out to be a smashing success.
The encouragement I received was overwhelming, and I was soon producing top quality chainsaw carvings and detailed wildlife sculptures!
... and the rest is history.