2001
Honduran mahogany
One piece, 16.5"H x 21"W x 9"D, including base, which is 2.5"H

I like open spaces in wood when I sculpt; the ring of fire (Flame) is a good example. In the past when I carved a human body, the desire for open spaces contorted the figures, as in Amiteh, and in South Sea Islander. I was wondering how to retain open spaces while still being truthful to the human form. The back-flipping Gymnast was my solution. Here, figure and base are sculpted from one block of wood. To minimize the potential for cracks developing at the waist and legs, I used a tree crotch, which is where the directions of the wood grain overlap.