A Block of Wood

Exciting news! Today we have acquired a big chunk of bur oak wood to use for creating the sculpture. This 4,000 pound half log was once a 150+ year-old tree living in the city of Darlington, Wisconsin.

Within the eleven and a half foot tall block, Alvin can see one of the two figures in the sculpture's design, the standing figure that is reaching to the sky. The search continues for another block holding the other figure that touches the earth, but for now, work has begun on preparing the block for carving.

First, Alvin is removing the pith, where tension is created that can lead to cracking and checking. This will NOT eliminate all danger of checking, but will greatly reduce this type of breach. Even though the tree was cut several years ago, some moisture still remains deep inside the block. As the moisture leaves the wood, this can also create cracking. Slowing this process allows tension to be released gradually and helps to maintain the integrity of the wood, so Alvin will be sealing the exposed end-grain and protecting the wood from too much direct sun.

Meanwhile, concealed in this massive chunk of bur oak, an inspiring form waits to be revealed.

Thank you so much to all of you who have made the contributions that enabled us to purchase this first block of wood, and thanks very much to Jack Knowles, who is loaning his flatbed trailer, and helped us to procure and transport the half log. Check out the video, soon to be posted here, of our trip to the studio of a local furniture maker (michaelalexanderdesigns.com) to load and transport the wood.