DAY 22 – THE HOLE IS DONE!

  DAY 22, Monday: Mid 70’s. Dry. Blue sky. Brilliant sun. 

The Well

Dearest readers,

Done. Finito. The hole project at the Carving Studio is complete–five days ahead of schedule. She’s officially entitled “The Well”.  (She because I feel like I’ve been inside the earth’s body).

The small hole within the hole

 I re-dug and repaired the small hole that once again descends 18” under the floor of the larger hole. Jonathan, the Studio Manager and I lowered the 14 foot hand-hewn ladder into that small shaft today, cleaned up the surrounding area and...Voila! She goes down and rises up.

Ladder emerges from inside the smaller hole

A thought or two...

Week 1: In the digging phase, I hoped I would have insights into my deepest self and maybe some answers about the nature of death. I fancied myself the “hero” on a personal quest, struggling against adversity to find some kind of truth. Instead, I became aware of my body and its limits, concentrating on practical stuff like not pulling a muscle or straining my back. No grandiose ideas or ultimate truth emerged from my tired brain.

Week 2: Figuring out how to make the ladder was stressful. I have zero experience with woodworking. I couldn’t sleep that week, worried that I would not be able to harvest the wood parts from the trees on site, or make the ladder strong enough. I learned a big lesson. Just Do It! Take the first tentative step, be patient and attentive to maintaining the ladder’s beauty as well as practicality. With this attitude adjustment, and an openness to suggestions from sculptors, I fashioned a workable ladder from the natural materials at hand. It served as a big ego boost and an eye opener. I am grateful to Louis Lalli for showing me the boyscout lashing technique.

Week 3: Lining the hole with the marble shards provided meditative time. Piecing and fitting was a gentle exercise in hand-eye coordination. As I spiraled the shards up the dirt walls, I felt like I was building a life, step by step. It was the opposite of Shakespeare’s idea of life’s “mortal coil” in Hamlet, unwinding like a spool of thread. This mortal coil was wrapping up into a life, stone by stone.

The opening reception is this Saturday the 8^th from 5-8pm at the Carving Studio, 636 Marble Street in West Rutland, Vermont. I hope some of you readers can attend. SculptFest runs through October 21^st.