Design concept by Nick Markell of Markell Studios   www.markellstudios.com

Design development and construction by    Richard Helgeson

                                                                Laurie McKichan   www.lauriemckichan.com

The piece will be placed in the Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection Cemetery

Original design concept by

Nick Markell

The Tree of Life sculpture is an organically shaped piece

constructed of mahogany.   Rays

of gold leaf converge on the

descending dove cut-out.

A reading slope will hold a custom

made book recognizing donors for

the Resurrection Cemetery and

Chapel Mausoleum.

Showing the modeling process.     An early version is shown on the left, and

the final model in mahogany is on the right.

A parts model guides the

layout and assembly of the carving

blank.

Video clip showing large section of mahogany being jointed straight

and square, ready for glue-up into a larger assembly.

Large mahogany planks have been selected for color and density.     Planks are sawn to size

as shown in the parts model, and then glued together to build the necessary thickness of the

carving blank.

Individual planks are laminated

together using a vacuum bag.

The vacuum bag uses atmospheric

weight to apply pressure to the

pieces being bonded.    After

the vacuum is drawn, the assembly

is allowed to cure overnight in the

polyurethane bag.

The laminations will be jointed

and edge glued to create the

carving blank.

The laminations are

being edge glued.

Several different

glue-ups will be

necessary to create

the final carving

blank.

The 1/4 scale model

is in the right

foreground.

Consistent clamping pressure is needed along

the full length of the glue line.    

Showing a glued-up carving blank

ready to be rough cut to shape.

The rough shape is traced onto the carving blank and then cut to shape.

Squaring up the base.    The carving blank is too large

for our saws.     It has  been mounted upside down and

is being machined flat at the base.

The two carving blanks are rough shaped and

square at the base.    Hand shaping is next.

Grinding and sanding the finish shape has started.     Mahogany dust can create

respiratory and skin problems.    An area in the shop has been tented off with

plastic walls to contain the dust.      Protective

clothing and an air filtering helmet are used

during the shaping.

The piece is initially shaped with a grinder, then

sanded smooth.     The right and left half of

the Tree of Life will be joined at the base and

by the book shelf.

Shaping with grinder.

Final shaping.    The rays are being laid out

and the book ledge has been mocked up.

Samples of book leather and stone are

being selected.

Finished rays--shaped and ready for gilding

Kerry Dikken of Blasted Art

works on a stone sample.

Donor names will be engraved

into stone and flank the custom

made book.

The names are painted for contrast.    An example of the finished sandblasting.

Campbell-Logan Bindery of Minneapolis will make

the donor book.     www.campbell-logan.com

Greg Campbell

Greg has produced a mock-up of the

donor book.  

photos and text will be added as the project progresses

The finished book.

Installing the book ledge

A natural oil finish is applied to the piece.

The wood will darken naturally over time--the

color will become richer and deeper as it ages.

The building is complete.