Local Man Carves Giant Violin Heads
by Howard Johnson, April 11, 2011
Bruce Morrison, an accomplished woodcarver and renowned artist, has produced what may be the world's largest carved violin scroll-heads. The carvings are sized to fit an instrument that, if complete, would measure 24 feet tall. That scale dwarfs the "Octobass," currently the world's largest stringed instrument, at 12 feet, housed at the new Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona (http://vimeo.com/groups/20806/videos/10990875).
Bruce began his project in 2009 in collaboration with Howard Johnson. The two men conceived the idea of making two giant violin heads to garnish the balcony at the newly completed Signal Hill Ranch performance venue, home of the annual Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival. Johnson provided a grant to complete the work.
"Classical music is a living, dynamic art form. It does not occur in a vacuum," said Johnson. "Bruce's visual art, hanging within view of the stage, inspires both the audience listening and the musicians playing. At the same time, the music inspires Bruce. That social feedback adds to the richness of our community."
Working with a series of photos and measurements, Morrison recognized that the delicate proportions of a violin look too spindly if enlarged to architectural scale. The double-bass provides a better model. Johnson explains, "Most basses feature a scroll and peg box similar to the violin scroll, but more heavily built. The proportions of a bass peg box reinforce the solid feeling of permanence we want viewers to gain from the work. The carvings symbolize the enduring quality of classical music."
The pair located a suitable bass instrument from which Morrison made initial sketches. The preparatory work accelerated when Johnson stumbled across an invaluable trove of information on the Internet. Morrison said, "People have been carving violins for hundreds of years, but few of them wrote down the secrets of how to do it. The compound curves and intricate spirals are quite difficult to produce."
Morrison based his technique on a tutorial article by master luthier R.M. Mottola (http://liutaiomottola.com/construction/Scroll.htm ). The article explains everything about the geometry of a double-bass scroll including some visual tricks, like undercutting, that really make the design pop." The shadows and highlighting make the design appear more deeply figured than it really is," said Morrison.
Johnson added, "Morrison had to adapt a whole new design approach for this project, because carving at large scale takes completely different tools and techniques than carving at small scale. For example, I doubt Stradivarius used a chain saw. He didn't need a block-and-tackle to lift the scroll, either."
Other differences include the use of very large gouges that leave king-sized tooling marks on the wood. Were the wood finished smooth, it would look plastic. The tooling marks remind the viewer that this is a real, organic, handmade carving.
In May of 2010, Morrison had the first pieces rough-cut for initial inspection, "These carvings are seven feet long and weigh a couple of hundred pounds each. It took several adjustments to produce a design that appears to be floating in space, but is firmly connected to the wall."
That connection is particularly important because the carvings project out into free space forward of the balcony. There they loom over the heads of the first-floor audience, like titanic sentinels, forever silent, awaiting the next performance.
Morrison finished the matched set of carvings with a dark, nut-brown stain and wax. Accent lights on either side highlight the surface texture.
Kevin Krentz, artistic director of the festival, said, "The festival is thrilled to receive this collaborative work. From their perch above the audience, the giant heads have a fantastic, whimsical effect; very natural and approachable. They compliment our mission of making a total concert experience anyone can enjoy."
The scrolls will be visible at this year's Methow Chamber Music Festival (2011 program guide ).
Thanks to all the volunteers who make our festival possible.
If you are not already part of our musical family, why not join us? The Methow Chamber Music Festival welcomes every person interested in classical music. You don't need to know anything to get started. Just drop by before a concert and check it out. We'll be here, admiring the fine art and the fine weather, gathered in anticipation of another inspiring performance of classical chamber music.
