Ash Wave Sculpture

About the Sculpture “Ash Wave” was created from a dead ash tree which was killed by the invasive species Emerald Ash Borer. Although there is evidence of this disease in the finished work, the tree’s beauty still shines through. This sculpture gives you a unique look inside the tree - you can see how the wood grains flow upward at different angles and depths, where knots and cracks form, and how it reacts to bugs and other externasl factors. It is 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 110 lbs. How it’s Made I started this project in July 2020 after thinking it would be fun to carve something with a chainsaw. I didn’t have the talent to make a bear or eagle like many do, so I decided on something more geometric. I identified a dead tree in our yard that had enough size, cut it down, and created the rough shape with the chainsaw. Work progressed as follows: angle grinder with wood carving disc, handheld belt sander with guard removed, palm sander (many grits), sandpaper by hand (many grits). So much sanding! Once the shape was finalized, several defects were fixed or covered up, the bottom was flattened and 4 feet were shaped, a bowtie was inserted into the bottom to prevent a crack from widening, and a protective finish was applied. Imperfections Despite my best efforts, I was unable to completely hide all the imperfections in this tree. The Emerald Ash Borer left behind many black holes that run up one side of the tree. As the tree dried, several cracks appeared as the wood contracted. Additionally, I removed 4 nails and 2 bullets from the tree but they left behind dead and discolored wood sections. However, in some ways, the imperfections add to the allure of the piece.