1/23/24 — Form 13: finishing a shelved project

I completed Form 13 yesterday, on the deadline for its entry in an exhibition. I had originally planned to submit a different piece, but I learned three weeks ago, when the art show published its rules, that the piece and all of my other exhibit-worthy sculptures exceeded the 24 inch height and 18 inch width limitations. So I had to come up with something else quickly.

After three days of considering various start-from-scratch designs, I decided to take an unfinished piece off the shelf and do something with it for the exhibit. I had put this project on hold last spring.

I had initially planned the sculpture as a horizontal piece and I did not work out all of the design elements beforehand. Sometimes I start a sculpture with only a basic concept, and the finer details work themselves out in the process. However, this didn’t happen with this piece. I came to a roadblock, so I put the project on hold.

Last June, I used the piece as a prop in a photo session, and one of the images appears on my About page. Afterward, however, the piece went back on the shelf.

Two and a half weeks ago, with the coming art show in mind, I took another look at the mothballed, partially done sculpture. I positioned it vertically rather than horizontally, and I worked out the design elements that previously had me stumped. It was a bit of a challenge to meet the deadline, but I finished it yesterday for photographing and submitting the entry online.

I made Form 13 from hard maple, which is somewhat difficult to work with. But the end result is worth the extra labor. The dense wood yields finely detailed, sharp lines and a superior polished surface.

The sculpture is 24 by 8 by 5 inches, and it is on a painted aluminum base.