When Opposites Attract / Web Page / COLLECTION SERIES MARBLE SCULPTURE by Martin Cooney / For Sale

Posted on May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 by Martin Cooney, Stone Sculptor

When Opposites Attract / For Sale / The Liberty Collection

Colorado Yule Marble / 10 x 5.5 x 18″ / 21.4lbs / SN260403

Currently Displayed at The Martin Cooney STONEWORKS

121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas 66846

Please email martincooneysculptor@gmail.com for sales information

A modern decorative lamp shaped like two abstract figures, with a soft glow emanating from the space between them, placed on a dark surface.

~ Love Light ~

‘When Opposites Attract’ presents a dichotomy in marble that has, from time to time, served to bring counter intuitive perceptions that a particular COLLECTION SERIES Marble Sculpture is not in fact a single carving, but is comprised of two complementary sculptures, posing as one. Most recently, ‘Duality’ portrayed such an illusion, although a notion easily debunked upon even the briefest close inspection. Afterall, it was never meant to deceive one into thinking that it was indeed two separate carvings; the dual nature of the piece was a theme, rather than a bone fide optical illusion. And with ‘Guin and Son’ the whole point of the piece was that these two individual carvings (split from the same block, as it turned out) were only discovered to be related during a photo shoot, wherein they appeared to recognize one another. Then there was ‘Birth of a Guin’; a complex carving comprised of two vastly differing elements that summoned the question: Nurture or Food? But with this piece, the intent is obvious: One piece, or two?

So, what do you think? Does this single marble sculpture look like one carving, or two? Well, the answer is obviously one, but to look for all the world like two, and that is the point. You could say that the origin of this piece owes a great deal to a splitting process that went wayward, in that I had intended to split a rough block of Liberty Collection marble in two, but when the dust had settled and the results examined, I had not two, but three pieces of carveable marble to add to The Liberty Collection. And so … smiles all around!

~ Cose encounter of the marble kind ~

But that’s the way with Direct Method Split and Carve sculpture – you never know just how the marble is going to intervene. However, this piece – this oddly shaped rough block, intrigued me from the start, and immediately put me in mind of, well, the sculpture you see before you. And right from the outset I began loading as many contrasting features on the two opposing components as the marble allowed. The shorter of the two received all the curvy curves, the thin marble walls through which to transmit light, and I carved her a much slighter stance. The taller received a much more truncated form, complete with muscly drill holes, along with a broader and bulkier stance. Thus, the opposites attracting title arrived quite early in the carving process – from the very beginning, almost.

~ Splitting marble with plug but no feathers can conjure some interesting surprizes ~

~ Please click on an image to enlarge ~

To me, this piece addresses issues of deep-rooted attractions and desires that, perhaps, our subconscious mind cares little to investigate; and why should it? That opposites do attract is, I think we all agree, quite undisputable. Not always, but maybe more often than we consciously realize. I mean, why should we be attracted by ourselves, or our own likeness? Surely, we desire, even crave, quite the opposite; I think it is ingrained in human nature. But I digress.

Modern decorative sculpture featuring two abstract forms in white, illuminated from within, set against a backdrop of soft curtains.

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A tall, abstract sculpture with a smooth, white surface and a series of carved, spiral-like grooves.

Abstract sculpture featuring two distinct shapes, one with a stepped design and a hole, crafted from a light-colored material against a blurred background.

~ Colorado Yule Marble reflects different moods according to different light ~

‘When Opposites Attract’ sits firmly among the ‘Window’ category of COLLECTION SERIES Marble Sculpture, as it requires a distinct backlight to fully appreciate the age-old message it brings. Place it in a window – preferably sunny, and you will be entertained throughout the day, as the translucent nature of the Colorado Yule Marble emits a show that, well, must be seen to be fully appreciated. Each variation and angle of light will coax a different ‘mood’ from this enterprising little carving. It knows where it belongs; just like all my other window pieces – squarely in the middle of the sunniest window you possess.

A minimalist sculpture featuring two abstract forms with smooth surfaces, set against a blurred backdrop of curtains.

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As with all my COLLECTION SERIES Marble Sculpture, ‘When Opposites Attract’ carries my signature, its name, serial number and my Mark carved or etched on the underside of the base.

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So, as you watch the daily procession of light interplay with the 30-million-year-old marble, you can perhaps resolve to make sense of your own ‘opposite attractions’ and how they have played out in your own life story. Because, from my point of view, variety is indeed the spice of life, and how is one to inject a little spice into one’s life without a dose of opposite attraction?