Jesse Green

Welcome to November’s installment of The Artist Spotlight! 

Each month, we will ask a Medway artist a few questions - finding out more about what they do and what motivates them.  

This month, we will put the spotlight on a man of many talents - chainsaw sculpture artist, author, motivational speaker, and musician Jesse Green!  

 

Medway Cultural Council: Tell us about your art! 

Thank you so much for asking! I can answer that in 3 parts: 

1- I’m a Master Chainsaw Sculptor (20+ years) working large-scale. I love to make giant, colorful landmarks, wild conversation starters and things that make people smile. Over the years I’ve been commissioned to create sculptures for celebrities, rock stars, foreign royalty, the military, corporations, universities, cities, towns, religious groups, art collectors, and so much more. I had my own Primetime worldwide television series on The National Geographic Channel called, American Chainsaw that we filmed here at my studio in Medway. As well as a worldwide commercial series for ESPN, The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Vignettes for The WWE, commercials for Carhartt, ’47 Brand and others. I am the only person to ever hold the title The Official Chainsaw Sculptor of Husqvarna USA. I’ve been featured by nearly every major press outlet and entertainment industry publication in the country, including: The Washington Post, The New York Times, National Public Radio, The Boston Sunday Globe, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, IMDb, Funny OR DIE, The Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, Wood Magazine, The Wrestling Observer and many more. I’ve also appeared in books, in countless newspapers, television newscasts, radio shows and more. Online my work has gone viral several times over, viewed by millions and a top trend on Twitter.  

2- (My fav) I’m a Motivational Speaker! My show, CHAINSAWS, CHEESEBURGERS AND ROCK N’ ROLL- LIVE! has been drawing huge acclaim for years (especially at schools of all grade levels 1-12 and college.) It is a super-fast-paced, fun, funny, multi-media show with a message to inspire others to passionately chase their dreams. Proven to grab and hold the attention of even the hardest to reach.

3- I’m a (soon-to-be) author as my forthcoming trilogy book series also titled, CHAINSAWS, CHEESEBURGERS AND ROCK N’ ROLL (for adults and ages 15+) will begin rolling out next year!!! 

4- I’m a musician. (29 years playing harmonica) The last 18 of which I’ve been a front-man for Earth’s Greatest Cover Band, Fevah Dream. (Which actually came 2nd timeline-wise, so really I probably should have listed it there... And actually, I suppose that makes this whole answer in 4 parts not 3... but... you get the idea.

 

What inspires you?

Honestly, as a professional sculptor I’m really inspired by money. (Kidding. But not really.) Of course, I am also hugely inspired by fun new opportunities, artistic challenges, the chance to do something no one’s ever seen before and the love of making people say; ‘Wow.’ But I’m VERY client-oriented. I like to be given an assignment, get the back-story behind it, get inspired from that, then execute. In other words, you tell me what you want and why, then from there I’ll create for you the greatest chainsaw sculpture you’ve ever seen. The sky’s the limit! Let’s do something amazing. Inspiration for hire if you will. However, when it comes to both the speaking and the books I am 100% inspired by just taking all the great fortune I’ve had in Art and trying to pay it forward by passing along my story to others. Because it truly is a story for anyone who’s ever had a dream to do anything! A story that proves absolutely ANYTHING in life is possible if you want it bad enough no matter the obstacles. I’m really inspired by the idea that my own struggles and lessons learned the hard way could help someone else. That by simply telling my story, somebody else could be saved an incalculable amount of time and frustration. Or maybe even give them the courage or that little extra push they might need to decide to chase their own dreams. CHAINSAWS, CHEESEBURGERS AND ROCK N’ ROLL is an unprecedented, unpredictable, highly-entertaining, roLLerCOaSTerrrrr of honesty.

 

How did you get started in making your art?  What drew you into the field?

I fell in love with Chainsaw Sculpture as a Sculpture/ 3-D Studies major at UMass Dartmouth. While out for a leisurely drive one fine Fall day, I saw a log that the town had just cut down and I had a van, so I thought; ‘I’m grabbing that!’ It was the messiest, sappiest decision of my whole life but also one of the best. I bought my first chainsaw, I had never used one before, I didn’t know if I was going to kill myself, so I held on REAL tight... Good news- I didn’t kill myself (yay) and it was love at first cut. Years, and an incredible story later, I actually wound up legitimately becoming the world’s most famous (most mainstream) Chainsaw Sculptor. That of course is the drastically simplified version of the story... The full story (CHAINSAWS, CHEESEBURGERS AND ROCK N’ ROLL) will - blow - you - away. You’ll be like; ‘Wow, I NEVER would have imagined aaany of that... That’s... crazy.’

 

How long have you lived in Medway? What drew you to this town?

This year marks 12 years for my wife and I here on Village St. She’s originally from New Jersey but I’m originally from just barely over the line in Holliston (always coming to Medway for everything.) Growing up here all I wanted to do was get away, so after college I actually went to live and work in Hawaii for a while. (Oahu.) Which surprisingly just made me realize just how AWESOME of an area this actually is! (Who’d-a-thunk it?) We are all definitely very lucky to be living here. I’ve now travelled most of the country, seen every place I ever wanted to see and what it’s taught me is that the grass definitely isn’t greener on the other side of the tracks, only farther. Medway is awesome. I call Medway the center of the universe.

 

How can people experience your work?  Do you have a website/gallery?

For sculptures (besides the various pieces of mine that you see scattered around New England) folks can visit: TheMachineJesseGreen.com for tons of cool stuff! Photos, videos, links to over 100 different features, appearances, my YouTube channel, etc.

For motivational speaking and my forthcoming book series visit: ChainsawsCheeseburgersAndRockNRoll.com Watch kids from all grade levels and people of all ages reacting to the live show and please don’t hesitate to contact me for more info! In fact, please help me spread a unique message of hope and motivation to the next generation!

You can also like The Machine Jesse Green’s World Famous Chainsaw Sculptures on Facebook as well as my new Chainsaws, Cheeseburgers And Rock N’ Roll pages on Facebook and Instagram. I also have personal accounts on both where people can follow me or make friends, plus Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

 

Describe your favorite meal

Easy! (And by now should be pretty obvious.) Cheeseburgers!!! I actually liken opportunities to cheeseburgers. Big, juicy, delicious, mouth-watering cheeseburgers. For each one is an experience I almost never regret, so I’ll take aaaall that I can possibly get. I’ll take them whenever they’re offered or make them for myself if not... Then shove them all through my face while they’re good and hot! I prefer mine with extra, extra, EXTRA-cheese please. Mmmmm... Now THAT’S the stuff of dreams. 

Rock on.