Koa, basalt
34" x 10" x 12” (86 x 25 x 30 cm)

A chunk of koa - a valuable and rare Hawaiian wood - was given to my father in 1998, as a trade for him fixing a neighbor’s car. After saving it for over 20 years, my father gifted it to me, and the two of us worked together to create this sculpture.

The block was sectioned to reveal the smooth interior grain and soft textures, which contrast its rough, raw exterior - highlighting the relationship between the hand of the artist, and the hand of nature.

A feeling of lightness was achieved by cutting each piece at an angle, and reassembling them offset: communicating a visual sensation of ascension.