The Flying Silhouettesas

These ten precariously balanced silhouettes has a Ring(ling) to it.  Carved in pine, a side view allows a clear view behind the figures. On the reverse side, a solemn soul walks at bottom, obliviously to the amazing balancing act. So high they rise, atop, the Charles Blondin figure umbrella in hand, protects the mighty column from lightning and rain.  

Dimensions & Coloring: weight, lightest totem pole in the series = 42#; 11" x 11.25" base; 19" circumference 19" / 6-9" diameter; 90" height. Enamels coat the figures and cloud image atop; off-white stain and polyurethane encase the pole.

Videos and specific photos on request.

Lamp🧊

Influenced by abstract expressionist Louise Nevelson (9/21/899-4/17/1988), Lamp🧊 encases a 4" metal wiring conduit with a variety of custom fit wooden shapes. 14 light boxes circle the pillar. Atop, a final light can be covered with the accompanying snowy owl crown or alternative schoolhouse glass globe (also included).

Each wood block, primarily pine with random cypress and oak pieces, is hand shaped and fitted (glued and fastened). The form transitions from dark purple (base) through gray and blue to white at the apex. A polyurethane varnish topcoat protects blocks drenched in oil-based stains.

Dimensions and coloring: weight, 95#; 11" x 17" base; 6' height; 6-11" diameter / 35" circumference; Note: the owl atop pictured here has been recolored to white body and head with gold/brown accents. bird crown: 32" l x 8" w x 10 h. The grounded 14-3 wiring, light boxes contain E12 socket bases; single, standard bulb socket on top.

Videos and specific photos on request. 

The Adorned Leg

A labor of love circles this tattooed leg, carved by belt and hand sanding to mimic exact proportions of a flesh and blood model, stepping atop a fitting rocky ridge, concrete base. Thus, the original oak log was as wide as the shoe is long, 19" (as wood was removed, to strengthen the shoe, a metal band, screws, and epoxy have been affixed within the sole, beneath the enamel.)

Following repeated sanding and staining, each tattoo was first fine-line sketched; then, each outline was hand wood-burned in. Next, each tattoo was hand-painted with enamel, followed by a final topcoat of polyurethane. The snake scales alone required hours of wood burning, and most of the figures required at least an hour of time from pencil sketch to burning to completed painting.  While the tattoos vary in shape and sizes, the simplest (probably the avocados) required at least an hour to produce, from item selection to pre-paint preparation, wood burn stenciling, then painting. Thus, the final product consumed months of labor, each image painstakingly and joyously imprinted.

The result is an eclectic mix, classics, such as dagger, anchor, and birds, reside along Melville, Gauguin, Masereel, Mr. Horsepower, an octopus (with which a yellow submarine is also required), bones and the occult, zodiac, humor, birth and death, in total 82 distinct images (+ depending on how one counts or subdivides). Many are common, some less so. The leg wears skirt enough to provide a subtle voyeuristic nod.

Dimensions: weight, this is the heaviest totem in the series, 90#; base, 12" x 24"; 68" h; 29" +/- circumference, 8"-11" diameter; shoe: 5" w x 19" l. 

Videos and specific photos on request. 

Salt Water Fish

Have you ever wanted to hang a taxidermic sailfish on the den or living room wall but don't have the wall space? Go vertical! From barracuda to breeching blue marlin, 13 fish in all, this deep-sea totem says it all. Clown fish?  Got it. Lurking eel, check. Redfish, of course. All carved in pine.

Each fish, painstakingly, scale by scale, eyeball by eyeball, drawn then reliefed by hand router; the finer details of each Pieces are meticulously hand-carved and -enameled. The totem pole itself is oil-based stained and varnished in polyurethane. Any sportsperson's dream, or ichthyologist's, or child's room without the messy aquarium.

Dimensions: weight, 70#; 11" x 12" base; 85" h; 20" =/- circumference;    10" - 13" (w/eel, crab) diameter.

Videos and specific photos on request. 

Fresh Water Fish

Yes, a pine log with a knarl was selected so that the final product would accommodate fishing poles.

Like the Salt Water Fish Totem, each fish, 8 in all, is painstakingly, scale by scale, eyeball by eyeball, drawn then reliefed by hand router; the finer details of each Pieces are meticulously hand-carved and -enameled. The totem pole itself is oil-based stained and varnished in polyurethane. Any sportsperson's, dream or ichthyologist's, or child's room without the messy aquarium.

Note: the flying bass just misses swallowing the giant dragon fly.

Dimensions: weight - this is the second lightest totem pole in the series, 44#; base = 9.5" x 11"; circumference: 71" h; 20" narrowest / generally 6" diameter, 11" @ pole perch; dragon fly, 2" h x 3.5" l x 5.5.".

Videos and specific photos on request. 

Still Life with Woodpecker

The dream-like quality of this totem has been carved from a magnolia log recovered from a hurricane tree fall. The sculpting evokes both a romantic and post (pun intended) impressionrendering.

This totem features the following plants: magnolia tree flower (Magnoliaceae), American Beautyberry (callicarpa americana), star jasmine (Jasminum), Hibiscus (Lasiocarpos), Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Hirta), Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron), Trumpet Creeper (Campis radicans, Snake Plant at base (dracaena trifasciata) and Indian Shot (Canna Indica), purple Iris (Iris Hexegona), and wood beads dangling from the top simulate Spanish Moss (Tillandsia Usneoides). The Red-bellied Woodpecker (actual size) is shaped from 100 year-old cypress (some epoxy and reinforced pinning has been added to thwart breakage).

The American Beuatyberry portion is inlaid with purple glass beads strung on wire shoots, each bead and wire hand fashioned. The trumpet flowers, too, have been reinforced with epoxy and screws to avoid breakage. Most aspects of the carving have been created with a hand router with additional fine- details chiseled by hand. All finishes are high gloss enamel. 

Dimensions: weight, 61; 11" x 18" base; 82" h; 23" circumference / diameter: 8" typical - 12" w/ trumpet flower, 15" w/ woodpecker   (@ 2" w x 7" l x 8" h).

Videos and specific photos on request. 

in progress

Shikaakwa

Currently in process. From an oak log, on one side, an interpretation of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's concrete sprites salvaged from the defunct Midway Gardens, and on the other, a rendering from the solid aluminum art deco statue, Ceres, Roman goddess of agriculture, designed by John H. Storrs, first found atop the demolished LaSalle Street Chicago Board of Trade Building, 1885-1929 (William W. Boyington architect) and now sits atop the newer, 1966 Landmark structure (Holabird & Root). Wright's concrete sprite and a scale model of Ceres can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The sprite side of the totem will be finished with textured enamel. The Ceres representation will be finished in silver enamel. The totem name is one spelling or variation from the native Algonquian (Miami-Illinois) from which Chicago is derived, A few flowering wild onion plants will be added as well between the two figures.

Dimensions: weight83#; 10" x 17" base; 65" h;    28" typical circumference / 12" average diameter, 17" at base.

Videos and specific photos on request.