18 x 14 x 12 inches, alabaster,

I needed a stone. I went downtown to Bob's Sculpture Supplies and into his cavernous cement basement: high ceilings, brilliant florescent light and mountains of stones. A wonderland. There was alabaster, marble, limestone, soapstone - boulders of fanciful shapes and sizes. Spray them with water and you can see ranges of color and flaws. When I choose a stone I usually have nothing in mind. I look at them all waiting for me, reaching out to me. So, there I was with my squirt bottle in hand, it could be minutes, it could be hours. Today it was quick - a piece of beige alabaster, about four hundred and fifty pounds with a big gash on one side, looking like it had been abandoned. "Are you sure?" questioned Bob. I was sure.

Once at my bench at The Sculpture Center I began carving. It was easy. No sketches or measuring just direct carving. I follow my eye around and upward; my hands feel and "see" in the back better than sight. The gash became the strongest point - a piece is as strong as it's weakest point- it twisted and turned backward and was finally polished but not like a piece of plastic all crisp, shiny and perfect. No. A stone must always maintain its integrity and show itself naked. i always leave a part unpolished, and some raw chisel marks as it is worked.

A stone has power, this piece is Power.