This is a sculpture of music made visible. Fluid
movements, spirals and twists form the five lines of the musical score. The
nine notes suspended upon the lines of the score are those of the famous
passage of Beethoven's ninth symphony, "Ode To Joy". This 80" sculpture is
carved from an ancient juniper tree found hanging on the crumbling remains
of a lone limestone butte in a remote corner of the Texas Panhandle. This
remnant of a mesa overlooks the confluence of Tule Creek and Palo Duro
Canyon, one of the battle sites of the Comanches and Colonel Ronald S.
McKenzie.
Years of fierce southwesterly winds have shaped and molded
this tree into a massive medley of fluid waves and twists. The twists and
flowing lines no longer simply evidencing the ten centuries of howling winds
but now conveying a beloved melody. A person who reads music can easily
identify the tune. Others may notice the latter notes taking on human form
as they tumble downward. The contrast between weathered wood and rich hand
polish, plays on the imagination much like music playing on the heart. This
sculpture would also be a great addition to any corporate collection, it has
proved to be a real "crowd stopper" at shows, evoking deep emotion and great
interest from the viewers.