Aquatic Anomaly: Unique Marble Sculpture by Martin Cooney

COLLECTION SERIES MARBLE SCULPTURE

Carved by MARTIN COONEY

Aquatic Anomaly / $3,000 / The Liberty Collection / Colorado Yule Marble

16 x 10 x 9.6″ / 36.4 lbs / SN251001

Currently Displayed at The Martin Cooney STONEWORKS

121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas 66846

Please email martincooneysculptor@gmail.com for purchase information

‘Aquatic Anomaly’

‘Aquatic Anomaly’ derives her name from the incongruous nature of her finished form – a result of the twisted nature of her rough block that enabled me to carve a marble bowl that refuses to conform to standard concepts and seems to suggest both a leviathan monster rising from the deep, and a sturdy, practical vessel charged with navigating the waters above her terrain. In short: this, the 13^th addition to The Collection Series’ Liberty Collection, is one very eccentric sculpture, indeed.

Please click on a photo to enlarge.

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Convention took second place to fluidity of form and ethereal overtones, as I let my imagination run wild with this carving. ‘Aquatic Anomaly’ is whatever you perceive her to be; a tidy, versatile bowl; a flamboyant ‘statement’ sculpture; or both. With her intriguing profile, she appears quite different from almost every angle, and only a full viewing ‘in the round’ reveals the complexity of her design. The small, compact footprint enables her to occupy just about any location you choose. And as with all of my Curvilinear Marble Sculptures, she loves nothing more than to bathe in direct light, whether it be sunlight (her favorite source) or spotlight – so bear this in mind when considering where to place her.

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Marble sculpture 'Aquatic Anomaly' by Martin Cooney, showcasing fluid, curvilinear design.

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Weighing in at 36.4 lbs., she is not exactly one of the lightest of my Collection Series Bowls, but she is none-the-less easy to pick up and walk with her from one place to another. Simply hold her close to you, as you would, say, a young child – embrace her, and all will be well. Just clear the path and don’t let distractions interrupt your task. This way, you will be able to admire ‘Aquatic Anomaly’ wherever you wish, and watch as the changing, evolving light plays upon her brilliant white surface, suffusing a myriad of moods within her thin Curvilinear walls.

Irregular block of white marble, partially carved, showcasing grooves and textures in the stone.

Please click on a photo to enlarge.

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The carving process posed a few challenges as I at first struggled to come to terms with the direction I was going to take this irregular and oddly shaped rough block. A fair bit of time had elapsed between me splitting off this piece of The Liberty Slab, the 3-ton home to all Liberty Collection sculptures, so I had had plenty of time to take in her convoluted form. Also, she had been split several times, creating a block with no flat – or sawn – surfaces. The upside was that I was able to envision a carving in each plane, eventually realizing the potential for a bowl quite like no other, and there are many bowls within The Collection Series’ 80 carvings, with plenty more to come, I am sure.

A marble bowl sculpture named 'Aquatic Anomaly' by Martin Cooney, featuring a fluid, unconventional design that suggests both a vessel and an abstract form.

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Finally, don’t be afraid to adorn this bold bowl with whatever comes to mind – seasonal fruit, sentimental treasures, newly found shells from the beach, the first leaves of Autumn, walnuts, wrapped chocolates …. She’s protected by an invisible Italian impregnating sealant, so a simple wipe down with a damp cloth brings her back to her brilliant best with effortless ease.

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