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Thread: Safe Arbor - Submission to Habitat for Humanity Birdhouse Auction

  1. #1

    Safe Arbor - Submission to Habitat for Humanity Birdhouse Auction

    Here’s an art piece I made for the Ultimate Birdhouse Exhibit and Auction 2018. (Habitat for Humanity) Here's a link to the web page. You can see all the artists and some of their work.

    I was excited about the opportunity to do this, and wrote down copious ideas for a couple of months... and came up with zilch. Then one day my wife and I were talking about it, and she made a suggestion which gave me an idea almost completely formed. I sketched it out, and it's almost exactly like you see it here. It evolved somewhat along the way due to challenges and ideas had while working on it.


    This is a stylized bird *nest, evocative of roots, trunks, branches, bird nest, and leaves (or are they feathers?) You may notice influences from Jaques Vesery, and Clay Foster, not to mention burners like Molly Winton or Graeme Priddle.


    It’s made from scraps of corbel glue-ups, cut-offs from cabinet lumber, and one cut-off from an oak column.
    I cut the core of the pedestal from the oak column, which exposed the construction grade glue-ups, which I finally laminated with 1/8” resawn alder to cover up. The egg is Black Locust.
    The design is burned in with a Patriot brand of pyrography pen. Burning. OH MAN! The burning! There’s approximately 100 hours of labor in this… Am I crazy?

    Safe Arbor
    Alder, Oak, Black Locust
    Approximately 8”x8”Wx20”T.


    Comments and critiques welcome.


    (*the original bird house)
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Jim Underwood; 03-23-2018 at 12:36 PM.
    CarveWright Model C
    Stratos Lathe
    Jet 1014
    Half-a-Brain

  2. #2
    Whimsy in bird houses is always good. I'd call it The Eider Tower... ironically there's no....Down side to that. When I see something that beautiful ,I wonder how sports trophys got so ugly.

  3. SUPERB work, Jim! Very creative, and where's that clapping hands emoticon when one is needed?!
    Remember, in a moments time, everything can change!

    Vision - not just seeing what is, but seeing what can be!




  4. #4
    Join Date
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    This is elegant. I love the tree motif and the color of the wood against the black is stunning. The curved flare of the column leads the eye to the nest then back to the square base. The proportions "feel" perfect to me. Outstanding!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Absolutely beautiful work!

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Mel Fulks View Post
    Whimsy in bird houses is always good. I'd call it The Eider Tower... ironically there's no....Down side to that. When I see something that beautiful ,I wonder how sports trophys got so ugly.
    I do love a good pun.
    Thanks for the compliments. I'm vindicated in my effort!

    And yes, I do wonder why so many awards go to "ugly" art.....
    CarveWright Model C
    Stratos Lathe
    Jet 1014
    Half-a-Brain

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Chandler View Post
    SUPERB work, Jim! Very creative, and where's that clapping hands emoticon when one is needed?!
    Thanks Roger. Always means a lot when accomplished turners compliment.
    CarveWright Model C
    Stratos Lathe
    Jet 1014
    Half-a-Brain

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by John K Jordan View Post
    This is elegant. I love the tree motif and the color of the wood against the black is stunning. The curved flare of the column leads the eye to the nest then back to the square base. The proportions "feel" perfect to me. Outstanding!
    Thanks so much for the critique!
    This project was planned, but did kinda evolve during the creation because of available materials and their size. So I was wondering how proportional it would turn out to be... Nice to be confirmed that it works.
    CarveWright Model C
    Stratos Lathe
    Jet 1014
    Half-a-Brain

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Hipp View Post
    Absolutely beautiful work!
    Thanks Jim! I strive to create that which is beautiful and worth seeing.
    CarveWright Model C
    Stratos Lathe
    Jet 1014
    Half-a-Brain

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Bedford, NH
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    1,286
    Beautiful, way beyond incredible! I don't know why, but when I first looked at it the mental image of of the Eiffel Tower (impressive structure up close) came to mind. I can't imagine the amount of time you put into this masterpiece.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

    "We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    As has been said-lovely, elegant, beautiful-in concept and execution. I though it was much larger so that indicates the proportions are indeed well done. I hope it brings a nice bid.
    Happy and Safe Turning, Don


    Woodturners make the world go ROUND!

  12. #12
    Very nice.

    Have you considered the fact that in order to build a bird house, you must first tear down a bird's house?

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