When the Oregon Department of Transportation required Peter Russell to cut down trees in the front yard of his Northeast Verda Lane home, he negotiated to keep one 14-foot stump.

That large Sequoia stump is now a carved dragon with red eyes.

Russell was asked to cut down three trees to accommodate major construction coming to the Keizer street this spring. The city project will widen the street, add a bicycle lane and build sidewalks. 

Russell said he negotiated with state officials for nearly eight months to keep the stump. He then used a portion of his financial compensation from the state for the loss of landscaping to hire an artist to carve the stump.

The dragon was inspired by his love for the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons, for which there is dedicated room in his home.

After the road construction is done, Russell plans to add a small community library next to the dragon. 

“It’s something very cool, and we’re excited to have it,” Russell said.

The dragon was carved by Lincoln City artist James Lukinich. He also carved one of the story poles outside the Keizer Civic Center as well as a wooden Big Foot in Keizer Rapids Park. 

Lukinich, who grew up in Keizer, estimated spending 30 hours carving the dragon. After carving “thousands of bears,” he described the dragon as “something different, something neat.”

Lukinich said in a text message that he used chainsaws and sanders to carve the dragon, and did not draw it out ahead of time.

“I always just stand there and look at the log I’m carving for a while and then I just see it,” Lukinich wrote. “The dragon was already there, I just cut away the rest.”

He noted that he loves carving dragons, and said he was honored to carve the piece. 

NEWS TIP? Contact reporter Krista Kroiss at [email protected].

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