Shrewsbury Bird
The Shrewsbury Bird was designed specifically for them influenced by the basic style and theme of the sculpture “First Bird.” In 2010 I donated “First Bird” to the Woodland Park Zoo to be auctioned off at their annual fundraising auction. The Shrewsbury’s had bid on “First Bird” but someone else took that sculpture home.
After almost a year of trying to secure the right stone to start the Shrewsbury Bird, commissioned August of 2010. I finally found a 600 lb block of Yellow Wave Pyrophyllite. 600 lbs was really twice the size I needed, but holding out for something in the 300 lb range with the dimensions I was looking for seemed like it could take a very, very long time. So I picked up the 600 lb block in mid July of 2011.
I decided to try splitting off the front side of the stone figuring it would save time and work if I could remove a large portion of what I didn’t need in one fell swoop. I drilled eight wedge holes and an additional 2 smaller holes between each wedge hole in a straight line down each side four inches in. Since I could not see any obvious fractures I figured this technique would ensure that I get a clean straight break. After removing the front four inches the stone remaining would still be way more than I needed. I decided to do this so I would have total flexibility as to where on the base portion I would place the bird. Best laid plans do not always produce predicable outcomes. At first all seemed to be going well, one side was splitting exactly as planned. The other side was presenting some difficulties and then – OOOOOOOOPS, @ ! @ ^ *!! @ ^*! - Oh no!!! There was a hidden fracture and the stone split in the wrong direction -- twelve or more inches deep. At first I couldn’t tell how deep the fracture ran and I thought I had lost the entire stone, at least for this sculpture. The stone had split three ways. You can imagine how I felt after spending a year trying to find the right stone. The saving grace is that, if I had not discovered the fracture when I did I would have placed the bird in the middle of the block and the fracture would have run right through it, likely splitting after putting hours of work into the sculpture. As it turns out the tallest remaining piece will work for the commissioned sculpture. I‘ll simply have less flexibility as to how I place the bird. I should say the remaining piece will work as long as there are no more hidden fractures. So is life when working with nature. The stone always knows best.
As I worked the stone, as is usually the case, the stone insisted on a number of the details. As much as I tried to bring the head straight forward, as was the case with first bird, this bird’s body and head insisted on a curves as if it is looking to one side. The curve in the body lead to some very interesting graining around one of the eyes that would not have shown had the head not turned. The final sculpture is about 170 lb. The piece is just a smidge over 24” tall and 11”wide X 14” deep at the base.
It was fascinating creating a sculpture based on a previous piece I had completed. As I worked, I found myself quite aware of the sculpture the Shrewsbury’s had originally wanted. I know they were looking for something very similar and I wanted to honor that. At the same time I wanted to give them something uniquely their own. I think in the long run I accomplished both goals. I was an honor to design this piece just for them and to see it placed in their home, in the spot it was designed for.
The Shrewsbury Bird is Finished 
