Some time, deep in the mid-80s, I got a call from a city politician from Cambridge Ontario. A huge old oak was in the way of some progress. The tree was to be made into a sculpture to honour the community. I must have submitted a drawing. I do remember visiting the maintenance yard where the tree was stored, standing in some awe of the huge trunk.
There have been moments in past decades, recurring moments, much like Lucy's repeated football trick on Charley Brown, where I think " ha, this is IT, I've Made It." When I got the go ahead, this was my thought.
Here is the tree, lying on its side in the yard. Notice my elderly Pioneer chainsaw near the top.
There have been moments in past decades, recurring moments, much like Lucy's repeated football trick on Charley Brown, where I think " ha, this is IT, I've Made It." When I got the go ahead, this was my thought.
Here is the tree, lying on its side in the yard. Notice my elderly Pioneer chainsaw near the top.
and notice the chalk marking to show where the major cuts were to go. I had carved over 3000 small pieces by that point, so I guess I had some reason for confidence.
I think I might have been a few weeks running that chainsaw fairly constantly. Every few days I'd get the city employees to come with a loader to roll the tree over.
I designed a base that would allow maximum airflow around the base of the scuplture. Wood will stand a long time as long as there is no lasting damp area.
When I figured I was done, they brought a big flatbed truck and crane. This is the morning when they dropped the scuplture in place.
I designed a base that would allow maximum airflow around the base of the scuplture. Wood will stand a long time as long as there is no lasting damp area.
When I figured I was done, they brought a big flatbed truck and crane. This is the morning when they dropped the scuplture in place.
I spent some hours tweaking detail with a large carving tool.
A mobile sandblasting service came in to make the surface look as if it had been there for a long time.
I've always loved Henry Moore, having spent many hours in the gallery devoted to his large plaster maquettes. It was cool to see one of his reclining figures in elm in the gallery in Chicago. So, perhaps this was my Henry Moore. I did understand that my work was 30 years behind the times, but, still, this piece seemed important.
This was installed in a field near a mall. It was visible for some distance. As I remember, it got a small mention in the local weekly paper. That was it. That big moment. Lucy pulled the football again.
Most of 30 years later, this piece still stands:
This was installed in a field near a mall. It was visible for some distance. As I remember, it got a small mention in the local weekly paper. That was it. That big moment. Lucy pulled the football again.
Most of 30 years later, this piece still stands:
Almost surrounded in bushes, the oak sculpture is hollow in places, but intact. I like this now. It has a timeless sense, a family standing, watching over a child into perpetuity.
RSS Feed