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missile crisis, he was a high school social studies teacher while he pursued a graduate degree in
audiovisual education and scene design from Indiana University. He accepted a staff position in the Indiana
University Audiovisual Center, and he began work on a doctorate in instructional systems technology, and got
married. Gene completed his studies in 1973, and he and his family moved to Georgia where he had
accepted a position at the University of Georgia in the Department of Instructional Technology. Gene
developed an interest in wood carving during his recovery from a throat cancer operation. The concentration
and hand-eye coordination helped him kick a three-pack-a-day habit, and led to the development of his
sculptural style.
Gene calls his sculptures "abstract organic forms" because they look vaguely like something that you once
saw in a biology textbook but can't really remember or identify. The images grow out of the natural grain and
imperfections of the Sycamore wood that Gene uses for his sculptures. Each piece starts out as a single
branch from a Sycamore tree. Gene uses Sycamore because it has an extremely tight grain which resists
splitting, and allows the development of the intricate details which are characteristic of Gene's work. The light
color allows great flexibility in applying finishes to his pieces.
The process begins with stripping the bark from the branches and locating the most obvious knots and other
imperfections. These imperfections become the focus of the carving, and result in unique, one-of-a-kind
designs. Each piece is an expression of the form that Gene sees in the wood during the carving process.
Gene uses a variety of x-acto knives and does not employ any kind of wood joinery or gluing in any of his
work. The finished carvings are then hand-sanded, and stained with wood stains or transparent watercolors
that allow the wood grain to show through. Gene seals each piece with three coats of lacquer. Each finished
piece is then mounted on a brass rod that is inserted into a ceramic tile.
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
21 1/2" x 4" x 4"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$575.00 sku #1502
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
12" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$260.00 sku #1504
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
12" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$260.00 sku #1499
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
10 1/2" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$260.00 sku #1503
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
12" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$310.00 sku #1505
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
13 1/2" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$365.00 sku #1501
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
15" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$425.00 sku #1500
carved Sycamore on ceramic base
12" x 3" x 3"
signed, numbered and dated on base
$285.00 sku #1506
