Thread: the ramsdell collection

a few more pics .the main attraction at mingling waters is ra which was the last and greatest work jack did just before he died , unfortunately the pic i took was ratty so ill do another thread on it when i get a scanned pic of a postcard prolly in a day or two

Think I have visited this collection in the 80's whilest touring there used to be a doll collection some where near by also.

Good to know the collection still exists

I've never been really keen on this type of polished root sculpture,

but I've now changed my mind,
had to go back and look again a few times,
these are really special
thanks for the pics Mongrell

not for me ! can't see the art in it just shows me they have a lot of time to sand

Originally Posted by SPIRIT

not for me ! can't see the art in it just shows me they have a lot of time to sand

What is the art you can see, then? Most of the time I agree with you, a polished root is a polished root. Nice, bot does not "mean" anything. On the other hand, there is no rule that you have to start from a square block of material, if nature has already roughed the piece like you would have done with a big rotary carving tool, what's the difference?

This said, none of those roots tells me much, but I can see that some pieces, like the one in the last photo, could have been created by an abstract artist from whatever starting material. Still would not buy it, though!

I see these as being much more considered than your garden variety polished root sculpture,
most that I see are just the result of just shinying up what is there,
these I think are the result of a more purposeful manipulation,
I keep needing to go back and have another look,
and I'm still convinced that this Jack Ramsdell fellow had "the eye"

sorry
have had a look again still don't like them much but it was a bit unfair of me to say it's not art .If l think of a great photo l can see the art in that light, shapes ect so in the same way a tree root is art not in the makeing of it but seeing the art in natures form

l was more thinking like a carver which l could not call the roots as carvings

Let's compare notes, then. The pieces where "the eye" is more apparent to me are 3 and 15, with a bit of good will 6, 13 and 14. The others do not talk to me at all, mostly I find them just messy. What are your preferences?

ive seen some glass tables made of similar root type pieces very nice. i would love to do a carving in something like these. but the work to get them that clean most be quite the job

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Let's compare notes, then. The pieces where "the eye" is more apparent to me are 3 and 15, with a bit of good will 6, 13 and 14. The others do not talk to me at all, mostly I find them just messy. What are your preferences?

look you are stretching me now they all look crappy (sorry)#6 l woulds stop too look at, nice grain and colour,,,,, #15YUK boring

Originally Posted by chris 71

ive seen some glass tables made of similar root type pieces very nice. i would love to do a carving in something like these. but the work to get them that clean most be quite the job

glass tables well l hate them as well ,that glass sitting on a root stump is so ----how do you say it tacky

Oooo, very nice. I see many, many beautiful pen blanks.

oops, did I say that out loud?

All right you guys..... I had to laugh at the comments.. very entertaining , but seriously.... we all know that art is in the eye of the beholder..... putting "art" aside tho....
We all enjoy wood.... in all it's forms.... at least I assume we do.
Haven't you ever picked up a piece of wood.... and played with it? I mean without tools.....
Admired the grain patterns and enjoyed the nice smooth feel that made you touch it over and over? Shoot.... I even pick wood up just to smell it! lol

Juvy

Occaisionally a nice stump turns up that gives opportunities.
Though generally I'm not mad on really rustic stuff

Here are some of mine
Wip coffee table
Finished
Various stumps
More