Description
“Recovery”
Curly maple isn’t actually a species. It’s formed when the tree experiences some form of stress. Something that causes uneven growth adds more and more figure deep beneath the surface. Figure that may be hinted at from the outside, but whose character isn’t fully revealed until the tree is felled and milled.
This particular piece of maple came from a tree that was growing next to our driveway, with a hump formed around a branch that was removed decades ago. This left what seemed to be a small void, but as I began to stabilize it, it took a lot of work to fill the emptiness inside. Several rounds of resin poured in to gradually strengthen it. A lot of patience. It was only when that was complete that I could begin shaping what we would see.
And it took a lot of work. As air dried lumber, the outside sap wood had bug tracks and checking (cracks.) Small passes with planes and the drum sander worked the surface down past the scarring and cracks until I was left with the best face. It wasn’t flawless, but certainly improved.
After that, the back was still left with scars. But taking off more wood would render it too slight to be usable. So I chose to leave them. And that’s when I realized this single piece of wood was a metaphor for the human experience: Stabilizing the unseen interior, shedding the what imperfections born of environment we can, painstakingly over time. But still leaving deep character that becomes apparent to all who spent more than a moment studying the face. And all while accepting that the scars that must remain, because removing them leaves existence nearly unsustainable.
So, here it is: “Recovery” In it’s final form. Imperfect but beautiful.
$325.00Original price was: $325.00.$225.00Current price is: $225.00.Share this:
Description
“Recovery”
Curly maple isn’t actually a species. It’s formed when the tree experiences some form of stress. Something that causes uneven growth adds more and more figure deep beneath the surface. Figure that may be hinted at from the outside, but whose character isn’t fully revealed until the tree is felled and milled.
This particular piece of maple came from a tree that was growing next to our driveway, with a hump formed around a branch that was removed decades ago. This left what seemed to be a small void, but as I began to stabilize it, it took a lot of work to fill the emptiness inside. Several rounds of resin poured in to gradually strengthen it. A lot of patience. It was only when that was complete that I could begin shaping what we would see.
And it took a lot of work. As air dried lumber, the outside sap wood had bug tracks and checking (cracks.) Small passes with planes and the drum sander worked the surface down past the scarring and cracks until I was left with the best face. It wasn’t flawless, but certainly improved.
After that, the back was still left with scars. But taking off more wood would render it too slight to be usable. So I chose to leave them. And that’s when I realized this single piece of wood was a metaphor for the human experience: Stabilizing the unseen interior, shedding the what imperfections born of environment we can, painstakingly over time. But still leaving deep character that becomes apparent to all who spent more than a moment studying the face. And all while accepting that the scars that must remain, because removing them leaves existence nearly unsustainable.
So, here it is: “Recovery” In it’s final form. Imperfect but beautiful.
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