Michael McDaniel

Hollow Form Sweet Gum Wood Vase

2019

Spalted sweet gum wood with heartwood at top, with carnauba wax, beeswax, and jojoba oil finish

11 inches tall; 8 inches wide

About this piece: The wood used to make this vase was allowed to begin the natural spalting (decay) process before shaping.

About this series: The material for this work is locally sourced hard woods. The process starts with a chainsaw and saw mill followed by turning it on a wood lathe. The entire process of drying, shaping and finishing takes up to 18 months. The shapes of the vases and hollow forms often depends on the size and shape of the wood and more so, the hidden treasure found inside. Each piece is unique on that basis alone. They are often created with a curved figure in mind. Adjustments are made through the process to reveal this hidden treasure, such as the spalting (discoloration), the figured grain and branching points from many yeas ago when the wood was much younger. Many of the larger pieces are from wood that is over a hundred years old. This wood is collected from local tree services or downed from storms. Both solid wood forms are created as well as segmented creations that are formed with many individually placed sections of wood.