This striking sculptural piece, titled "Juxtaposition," is a John David origional piece. It is a masterful exploration of texture and contrast. Hand-carved from two distinct pieces of maple burl secured together to create one carving. The work highlights the inherent drama of the wood's natural growth patterns. The sculpture features a compelling interplay between two finishes: 

• The Organic Core: Warm, honey-toned maple burl sections are polished to a high gloss, revealing the intricate, swirling grain and "eyes" characteristic of the wood. 

• The Textural Contrast: Deeply tactile, midnight-black "ebonized" clusters provide a rugged, almost geological counterpoint to the smooth wood.

Mounted on a petrified slab of Oregon bogwood from the Miocene period (15 + million years ago) "Juxtaposition" invites the viewer to consider the balance between the smooth and the raw, the light and the dark. It is a sophisticated statement piece that bridges the gap between contemporary woodturning and abstract fine art.

Artist Statement: I used a new process on this piece to connect two opposing pieces of maple Burl wood together, and then begin the carve. I am pretty sure someone else out there has done a similar idea, but I have personally not seen this technique done before, and it is definitely a cool process I will be doing on upcoming projects. Near the end of this carve I realized that I had a rather dramatic problem on my side. Part of the carving was turning out to be a dragon, and the front side had the trunk of an elephant on it. So I had to choose to go one way or the other, and since I see art as a no rules zone. Basically a place for freedom. Needless to say I left the elephant trunk, and the dragon body together forever. I hope this piece ends up on someone’s mantle forever starting conversations as to why the elephant and the dragon got stuck together.

Artist: John David

Category: Sculpture

Year: 2024

Dimensions: Call for size

Signed: Artist signed, dated, + makers mark

Inventory ID: #3137