COLLECTION SERIES MARBLE SCULPTURE

Carved by MARTIN COONEY

Marble Vista / $800 / The Liberty Collection / Colorado Yule Marble

18.5 x 8.5 x 9″ / 16.28lbs / SN250601

Currently Displayed at The Martin Cooney STONEWORKS

121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas 66846

Please email martincooneysculptor@gmail.com for purchase information

Marble Vista

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One of the joys presented by my Split and Carve, Direct Method Reductionist technique, is that by entering an alliance with the stone, as opposed to inflicting my will upon it via sawing it, I am often presented with opportune little ‘extras’ that pop out occasionally, quite unexpected, but are very welcome indeed. Just like this little gem.

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The Liberty Collection Slab.

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The occasion of its creation was memorable in that Kelley Judd (my business partner, above left) and I were eagerly waiting the arrival of the ‘Biretta’ rough block as I rang out the plug and feather wedges, hearing the pitch grow higher and higher as the incredible internal pressure rose – to the point that something was going to give. The familiar cracks, creaks and (I swear) … groans emanating from deep within the Liberty Collection slab were reaching a critical point, when all of a sudden, with one profound blow of the mallet, this little beauty suddenly detached itself and literally slid to a halt, mere inches from our feet.

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Yes, it was a bit of a shock, but it became immediately clear to both of us that this rough little slice of marble was remarkably well sculpted via the process of splitting the block – amazingly so, in fact. I picked it up and to my delight it set down perfectly in an elegant and intriguing slope that demanded something must be done with it. You see, it was just of that size that it couldn’t simply be added to the Martin Cooney Stoneworks ‘Marble Chips and Blocks’ display stand, where we sell our lovely waste (semi-precious) Colorado Yule Marble offcuts. No, this had to be carved into something … but what? The shape was already formed – quite perfectly as it happened. But it came to me in a flash: a window, of sorts. A tracery window!

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Well, it was too small to do much in the way of ornateness, but the idea caught, and as these things work, there was no going back now. First, I consolidated the shape; rounding off the edges to a smooth, durable surface that would take the odd ding and bump (not too hard though, obviously – she’s a quite delicate thing, so be careful with her), then I worked on the back … the smooth interior surface of the incline, honing and polishing, until it was up to Curvilinear Marble Bowl standards of “ooh” and “ahh” perfection when touched.

Please click on a photo to enlarge.

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The outer surface, split as it was – into little clefts, peaks and crevices, and encrusted with thousands of tiny glinting sparks of light reflecting off each microscopic, mirrored calcite crystal – needed no attention whatsoever. It was perfect, just as it was, and will remain so when it glints and glistens in your sunny window. For that is what this piece is – a sunny window carving, along the lines of ‘The Mountains of Moab’, ‘Troglodyte Cloister’ and ‘Ice Boat‘. Of course, when placed in direct sunlight, any of my Curvilinear Marble Bowls will positively come to life and glow in that evocative and translucent way that only thinly carved marble can. But that’s another story. I digress.

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Place ‘Marble Vista’ (as the name suggests) in a window with a view – face her in, or face her out, it’s up to you. She will entertain anywhere the sun shines bright. Her shadows will glide, her crystals will glint, her marble shine and her window will frame your little corner of the world like never before. In short, you’ll never know just how you managed without her once she takes up residence.

Please click on an image to enlarge.

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Marble Vista / $800 / The Liberty Collection / Colorado Yule Marble

18.5 x 8.5 x 9″ / 16.28lbs / SN250601

Currently Displayed at The Martin Cooney STONEWORKS

121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas 66846

Please email martincooneysculptor@gmail.com for purchase information

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Thanks for visiting martincooney.com

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