Wishbone

This monumental sculpture, carved from a single slab of redwood burl, stands nine feet two inches, or 2.79 metres, tall. Blunk’s preservation of the natural forms and textures in the burl, which are framed by his sculptural touch, emphasizes that the wood is a found-object. Overall, it strikes a precise balance between existing as an imposing versus welcoming presence.

This monumental wooden arch was made in the 1970s, a particularly productive period for Blunk in which the artist's work took a new direction.He started to create tall, asymmetrical arches made of wood, with very little transformation to the material in order to keep the memory of the living tree intact. This piece embodies Blunk's skillful woodworking technique. The combination of a smooth, polished surface contrasts with rawer areas at the top and bottom of the sculpture. This large and important free-standing sculpture carved from a single ancient redwood heartwood is considered to be one of his most important sculptures. "Wishbone" was kept in the Blunk family until 2010.