Cedar Flower

Western red cedar, (marble, bronze). 30” long, 29” diameter.

A new road near my studio went through a grove of western red cedar trees.  One was diseased and rotten in the core to about 6 feet above the stump.  That made it useless for lumber and the owner said I could have it.  I cut the ends square and cleaned out the centre with a chainsaw, then propped it up on blocks for a year to dry.  I didn’t know what to do with it.  Without touching the outside, I carved the fluted horn-shaped inside surfaces with scorps and gouges, which produced piles and piles of shavings.

Though I’d been inside hollow trees before, this was the first time I’d studied a tree from the inside.  The more of the wood I carved away, the more interesting the remaining wood became.  Once I got to the outside I was hooked.  The saga continues, with visions of the marble and bronze that will complete the work.