Natural Tree and Metal Sculpture Installation in Northeastern Kansas

I was riding my mountain bike on a certain series of trails in Northeastern Kansas this past summer, getting lost in the forest - which by the way is one of my favorite things. On one wrong turn I ended up finding quite a pleasant surprise. I had recently been studying sculpture in college, and on this wrong turn I saw a series of very old, rusted, metal automobile frames. The forest must have grown up around these hunks of metal, or just consumed them over the decades. Some of them were literally sunken into the trees and raised off of the ground, hanging in the air. The trees made them a part of themselves over the years. So being someone recently fascinated by studying sculpture, I thoroughly enjoyed this "found art". In fact it still is one of the best sculpture "installations" I have ever seen. You can't recreate decades of natural growth reclaiming and consuming man-made machines.

"Heart of Atlantis" - Wood, Bone, and Steel Sculpture by Ed Tajchman

This is the headpiece to my latest sculpture I call "Heart of Atlantis". Carved wood and cow bone, carved circuit boards and electronic pieces, kyanite gems, antler and misc. The welded steel torso needs a little work but I am really proud of this part of it. The goal was to create something between animal, gasmask, and cyborg. Like even the animals are going to be wearing gas masks soon, and/or be part mechanical.

Wood, bone, and steel sculpture by Ed Tajchman (detail)

Wood and Cast Metal Sculpture by Ed Tajchman - "Jezinka"

This is the latest sculpture from myself (Ed Tajchman) It is made from Cedar and Atlantis wood, carved cow and buffalo bone, cast aluminum. It's called "Jezinka" which is from the word "Yaga", which in modern Czech translates to "wicked wood nymph, dryad". The idea behind it was my take on a Baba Yaga shack. Baba Yaga is an old Slavic myth about a witch who lives in the woods in a shack that travels around on chicken feet. The bones represent those of her victims, but if you approach with caution she might offer a boon. The piece evolved into more of a totemic embodiment of Baba Yaga.

"Jezinka" by Ed Tajchman

"Jezinka" by Ed Tajchman (rear view)