FOREST FRAGMENTS

​This series began after a severe ice storm in January 1998 in New London, New Hampshire. Most of our trees lost their crowns under the weight of the ice. After the felled trees were cut into firewood and selections were made, I modeled each split log in terracotta clay like a portrait. As in a portrait, history is revealed in each log by the accumulation of clues; bark patterns, growth rings, scars, saw cuts, lichens, moss, and the chewing marks left by insects.
Gayle Fichtinger in her ceramics studio in New London, New Hampshire.
ceramic sculpture of firewood installation
Installation, terracotta, split wood, 25"x8x8’, 2006, McCoy Gallery, Merrimack College,
North Andover, MA
ceramic sculpture of firewood installation
Installation, terracotta, split wood, 25"x8x8’, 2006, McCoy Gallery, Merrimack College,
North Andover, MA
ceramic sculpture of firewood installation
Installation, terracotta, split wood, 25"x8x8’, 2006, McCoy Gallery, Merrimack College,
North Andover, MA
ceramic sculpture of firewood installation
Installation, terracotta, split wood, 25"x8x8’, 2006, McCoy Gallery, Merrimack College,
North Andover, MA
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #54, terracotta, 25x28x17", 2004
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #55, terracotta, 21x19x11", 2004
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #53, terracotta, 20x15x15", 2004
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #43, terracotta, 20"x15"x9", 2001
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #48, terracotta, 19x12x11", 2002
ceramic sculpture  of firewood
Firewood Portrait #50, terracotta, 21x15x13", 2002
ceramic sculpture of firewood
Firewood Portrait #52, 21x18x11", 2003