Alright, Sammy Sculpture

I have always admired folk art, particularly that of Edgar Tolson, Miles Carpenter and not least of all, my father. I chose the whirly gig- a common folk art format as a key element of this piece, and added discs with text. The words that are paired when viewing two discs simultaneously critique an undue focus on craft. Ironically, Nevertheless, it is obvious that I have lavished a considerable amount of craft skills in making this work. At the base sits the main character from the children's book series, "Sammy the Seal", as if to say- with tongue in cheek, "Good boy- well done". Three hardwoods were used in making "Alright Sammy": cherry, walnut and pear. White formica squares cover the ends of some walnut blocks. The abbreviated hand is painted white, sanded and then covered with polyurethane varnish. The hand gesture may be read as a forefinger supporting a spinning globe- or a demeaning gesture, as in "flipping someone the gig."