This one of a kind sculpture which features hand carved old growth reclaimed maple Burl wood (surfer) that is poised above a cresting wave, with the bubbling ocean foam to his side, and a big wave looming above him on this wild ride of his life. There is if you look closely a good detail in this carving coming from 4 separate Burl clumps in one piece of wood to create this exact shape. Very lucky indeed. This piece showcases the type of work John David is well known for. This piece also has a ( surf board) from a piece of petrified wood found on the Oregon coast, with its beginnings of wood turning to rock being around 15 million years back, give or take a few million years. This is a collaborative piece with the wave weighing in at 30 plus lbs. it’s a custom piece of beautiful cobalt blue blown glass that Aaron Sertich is very well recognized for on the Oregon coast, and abroad. It is quite simply put a truly beautiful piece of glass that compliments this piece. The base is a live edge maple base with one of our 3 month finishing processes used, to give the base the illusion of rivers of gold meandering the intricate grains of dark mountains. By blending the warmth of seasoned wood, with the coolness of glass, and stone this piece was designed to be a tribute to the power and beauty of the sea. Which the surfer in all of us are striving to be a part of its incredible power.

Artist Statement by John David: This piece was one of my first pieces, it was for me a proving ground piece that I had the skills necessary to bring my carvings to gallery grade pieces. That Burl surfer used to be a piece of chainsawed wood 3’ by 2’ feet 2 inches thick chunk of dirty green wood. I carved it with a chainsaw out on my land by the Coquille River, bordering a hungry herd of cattle grazing in the pasture next to me. I am sure those cattle heard plenty of (French) screamed across that field as I endeavored to make a high end sculpture with my old chainsaw, because my tools were limited at that time. I attached it to a piece of copper, and took it for the first time to show my pieces to the only gallery I had the guts to visit. Surprising enough for me they took 90% of my pieces, but the gallery owner noticed my burl carving was not terribly stable. A slight customer push, and it’s on the floor. So she told me put it on a better wider base and we will sell it for you. Needless to say I went to a wee bit of an extreme to make that base, because this piece to me was a proving ground to myself that I had a second chance, and my pieces had value. This piece has evolved over a period of 2 years. I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I have enjoyed the countless enjoyable hours it to create it. Big Wave is for me worth a great deal more than any $ earned from its sale. Thanks so much for viewing this piece.

Artist: John David and Aaron Sertich

Category: Blown Glass

Years: 2024-2026

Dimensions: 22” high / 15” wide /18” long

Signed: Signed and dated

Inventory ID: #3116