Last year at this time I knew two things. One, that I wanted to focus on the spiral and figure out how to carve that form in stone. Two, that I wanted to carve alabaster with only hand tools. And that is exactly what I spent about 8 months doing.
But while I was doing that I was plagued with questions and self-doubt. I didn't know what these little alabaster sculptures were for exactly. What was their purpose? Was I going to try and sell them, exhibit them or what? Were they just going to end up shoved into my storage unit when all was said and done? Why was I making them? Honestly, that did have a tremendous impact on my carving and very often made it difficult for me to continue making them. But I just kept plugging away at it. By the time I left for Colorado I had made 6 spiral sculptures.
When I got to Marble I knew exactly what I wanted to carve and I knew exactly the challenges I wanted to face. I wanted to figure out how to carve the spiral going into itself. I was inspired by the shape of the ammonite. I love that the spiral curls into itself and that there is a symmetry on both sides.
All of my previous spiral sculptures have had the spiral either being pulled out of or pushed into a plane surface. That surface was either the back of the sculpture or the bottom of the sculpture. Either way, there was a lack of complete three-dimensionality. I wanted to break free of that restraint and make a spiral that was truly in the round. Carving a spiral that was based on an ammonite seemed like a good place to start.My first sculpture started out that way but the stone had other plans and so it came out a lot different then my original intent. But that was actually okay because it presented me with another challenge that I needed to overcome. I pushed the spiral into the stone on one side and then pulled it out through the other so instead of there being a flat back like many of my previous spirals it was in the round.
The day that I pulled the spiral out through the back side was Not Fun At All. In fact, I avoided it by taking a day off from carving the day before I actually did it. I was plagued with self-doubt the whole time. I didn't know how to do this without potentially screwing up the sculpture. And that is the basic, underlying fear for most carvers. That We Are Going To Fuck Up. But you cannot let that stop you from trying even when it is uncomfortable. And believe me, it was Incredibly Uncomfortable. But I did it! And that felt/feels awesome.
The next sculpture I made I focused on the spiral curling inward and again the day I had to do the "other side" was awful. I felt so clueless and out of my comfort zone. But I had to do it. I had to figure this form out.
Overcoming those two obstacles was the best thing I've done in a long time. What made it easier for me to focus on those two challenges was the fact that I knew how to do everything else without even having to think about it. I knew what to cut and where. I knew exactly how to get the spiral going. I never questioned what I was doing because it was so clear to me.
And I owe all of that confidence and comfort to the spirals I had made in alabaster. Had I not done those, what I now call, study pieces I probably would have wasted a lot of time just trying to figure out the one-side spiral and forget about being able to take it to the next level that these two sculptures have come to represent.
So, if those alabaster sculptures ultimately end up in my house or my storage unit (fortunately I have had the opportunity to display most of them in various small group exhibitions this year, however) I will totally be okay with that because I understand their purpose now. They helped me get to the point of being able to carve the two marble sculptures I made in Colorado. They were part of the process; not the end result. What a discovery.
But as I was carving my first sculpture I started to understand another obstacle that I needed to overcome. And actually still need to overcome although I have begun that process with the second sculpture I made in Colorado. See, most people there, as they saw the spiral form emerge saw what I was carving as a shell or nautilus. And though I see the similarities, that is not what I felt I was making. I was making a spiral - not specifically a shell. Yes, a shell is a spiral; but not all spirals are shells.
The reason I have been carving spirals and why I want to study them is because they are literally universal. The spiral, if you look closely enough is Everywhere. It's in our bodies, in nature, in the universe. It is a major form in our World. I think people are instinctively drawn to this shape but don't understand why. I think we are drawn to the spiral because of the fact that it makes up so much of what is around us. The shell is easy to understand and identify as a spiral, I will admit. But it is not the only spiral out there.
So, I have started to ask myself: How can I make sculptures that are spirals and not have people automatically see shells? First, I think it is important for me to study more the things in the world that are spirals but are not shells so that I can use these forms as inspiration. Admittedly I was using shell fragments as starting points for my sculptures so no wonder people were seeing shells. Duh!
The second sculpture I made in Colorado I based on the spiral that a fern makes when it is growing.
I think I was more successful this time at making a spiral that is not so easily recognized as something else. I think that this is what I am going to focus on doing more of in the future.Also, I've decided to switch mediums. Another reason that I think people see a shell so easily in my sculptures is because the look and feel of the stone mimics a shell, to a degree. Making spiral sculptures in other materials like wood and metal would definitely break me free from that. Also, there is only some much I can do with subtractive sculpture. I think it would be fun to start building up forms and creating the spirals that way instead.
So, after I get back from Burning Man and after I do the finish work on my two marble sculptures I am going to switch gears and start working in a different way. It should be fun and full of new challenges. At least I hope so otherwise, what's the point?
Fun Challenge of the Day: How many spirals found in our natural world can you identify?
I'll give some examples in my next blog. Look around. Spirals are everywhere. Especially in nature.
