Spirit

Brad Sells, Spirit, 2000, maple burl, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Sue M. Spicer, 2001.54
Brad Sells, Spirit, 2000, maple burl, 12 1⁄4 × 25 1⁄2 × 16 1⁄8 in. (31.0 × 64.7 × 40.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Sue M. Spicer, 2001.54

Artwork Details

Title
Spirit
Artist
Date
2000
Location
Dimensions
12 1⁄4 × 25 1⁄2 × 16 1⁄8 in. (31.0 × 64.7 × 40.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Sue M. Spicer
Mediums
Mediums Description
maple burl
Classifications
Object Number
2001.54
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2001.54

Artwork Description

Brad Sells begins his sculptures by carving away large chunks of wood with a chainsaw. He spends the next few days using customized electric grinders and sanders to open up the form. Finally, Sells hand-sands the pieces and coats them with a mixture of polyurethane varnish and natural oils to produce a semigloss finish. Spirit is carved from a maple burl, which is an outgrowth from the trunk or branch of the tree. Sells highlighted the irregularities of the burl by retaining a jagged edge on his vessel.

Works by this artist (6 items)

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Aaron Sopher, Trash (Ash Can), 1933, pencil and wash on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.178
Trash (Ash Can)
Artist
Date1933
pencil and wash on paper
Not on view
Aaron Sopher, The Violinist, ca. 1934, pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.176
The Violinist
Artist
Dateca. 1934
pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Aaron Sopher, Yellow Coat, ca. 1934, pen and ink and watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.177
Yellow Coat
Artist
Dateca. 1934
pen and ink and watercolor on paper
Not on view
Aaron Sopher, Peanut Joe's, Baltimore, 1934, pen and ink and watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.179
Peanut Joe’s, Baltimore
Artist
Date1934
pen and ink and watercolor on paper
Not on view

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oil on canvas
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