Adam Webb, Lake Conjola, NSW

Sea Shepherd Wailing
River redgum
390 x 75 x 115 mm

Materials
Side of river redgum; cracked, split, hard.
The piece was given to me by a friend to create a box for his sister. The gum had originally come from her property.

Method Of Construction
Bandsaw box
Once the concept of the box had been decided upon, the whale shape was cut, free hand, using a bandsaw. The back was removed and the draw cut again using the bandsaw.
Carved tail, humps, and groves made in topside. 60 grit sand paper was used to roughly sand the box. Detail was then hand carved into the tail of the whale. Box then sanded to 180 grit. Finished by hand sanding. The completed box was oiled twice, hand sanding between coats.

Glues
Two-part epoxy resin R180 used to fill cracks and splits. Titebond II.

Finish
Organoil.

Concept
The original challenge was….. how to turn a piece of wood, which was really ready for the fire, into an object of beauty, a piece that would show the true beauty of this once majestic tree.
Whilst crafting my friends box, pictures of the Japanese whaling flooded the media. As I watched the concept for another box formed.
The beauty of two so admired giants in harmony as one; the whale and the river redgum. The whale symbolising creativity and intuition, wisdom, beauty of movement, regeneration and the record keeper for all eternity. The redgum living up to 1000 years, recording the changing environment and providing for the people who surrounded it.
Both being exploited to satisfy human greed. Both needing our protection and recognition. Together!

Photos: Adam Webb