My first attempt at wood carving came from a fallen tree in my backyard...that I was too cheap to have hauled away...LOL!
Had I not explored the possiblities...I would never have known that...
this african woman with her baby in tow...who is preparing a freshly killed rabbit for her family's dinner...
...was trapped deep inside the wood of this wondrous tree...
Spirit is always speaking...we just have to learn to listen!
The LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a collection of preservational gardens created from rare and exotic plants from all over the world. Located at 301 N. Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia, California, the Arboretum is a wondrous natural beauty that attracts tourists year round.
Earlier this year selected artists were commissioned to create art from these rare storm damaged trees, in a show entitled: LA County Arboretum 'Forces of Nature' Exhibit. The unveiling and auction that followed took place on December 1-3, 2012. More than $20,000 was raised from the auction as well as income for the artists.
Swamp Mahogany Tree
'Curious' is the name I gave my sculpture that was created from the deep reddish brown wood of a Eucalyptus Robusta, commonly known as the swamp mahogany tree: also called Blue Gum Mahogany. Native to Eastern Australia, the swamp mahogany is a fast growing, winter-flowering tree that can grow 65-100 feet tall, with a trunk up to 3 feet in diameter and a long life span of at least 200 years. The swamp mahogany leaves are also a food staple for the native Australian koala bears.
I wanted to preserve as much of the tree as possible by maintaining the bark and original features. I envisioned that at some point in the lifetime of this tree.....a curious little boy must have played there....
