This abstract form is an enlarged version of a small sculpture I carved many years ago from a scrap piece of rainforest marble. The underside of the sculpture is an arched negative space and the piece balances on two curved knife edges. Thus, the sculpture rocks gently, giving it a kinetic quality. The upper surfaces are alternately flat and gently curving, with long, sweeping edges. These create wonderful shadows, and with the smooth matte finish, are exquisite to touch.

This variety of marble was quarried at Nootka Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and is characterized by its dove grey colour with striations of white and black. This particular piece exhibits a spectacular array of colours and patterns that makes me think of ocean waves or photographs of deep space. On the one hand, the pattern on the top looks like breaking surf on a beach. On the other, the grey pattern on the large vertical side looks like stars in the night sky. I feel the sculpture looks like an alien spacecraft and this inspired the title “Aphelion.”