The bases for many of the sculptures are the root burl of
the manzanita bush. Manzanita grows abundantly in the high
dry mountains of Southern California and Mexico. Back in the
70’s the burls were a bi-product of the clearance of
firebreaks. In the creation of a fire-break if only the
above ground branches of the manzanita are removed the bush
sprouts back rapidly from the burl. To prevent this fire
departments would often plough up the burls, bulldoze them
into huge piles and burn them. I have heard of piles as
large as a house that burned for a week.
Since then manzanita has come to be recognized and valued
by myself and other artists for its incredible beauty and
variety of form. In the Studio skilled craftspeople, most
of whom have been with me for many years, first examine each
burl to determine its best use, then grade, cut, wax and
polish it, and mount it with a sculpture to create what I
feel is a happy marriage of the art of nature and man.
Currently all of the manzanita used by the Studio is
harvested on a sustainable yield basis from a single
ranch in Mexico under strict governmental control.
An environmental impact report had first to be proposed
and guidelines for harvesting delineated. All the burls
are dug on a selective basis by hand and carried out on
foot or in wheelbarrows. The center of the burl is removed
but pieces of root are always left and these rapidly grow
back. Using these techniques ensures minimal environmental
impact and a sustainable yield. We anticipate this one ranch
to provide all our needs indefinitely.
"Nothing compares to the promise we have in You, Lord."
