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Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

Cave Paintings

Norm Sartorius creates spoons as sculptural meditations on the qualities of wood. Working with species from across the globe, he carves each spoon in response to a piece’s unique physiology. His earlier works, such as Ladle, adhere to the function and form of a spoon. It wasn’t until buyers hesitated to use his spoons that he considered making them nonfunctional. Long and Lean embraces the irregular pattern of York gum burl, leading to a finished piece that pushes the form of a spoon into abstract sculpture.

ArtistNorm Sartorius, born 1947
Date2013
MediumBlack walnut
Dimensions8 x 2 x 1 3/4 in. (20.3 x 5.1 x 4.4 cm)
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2024.51
ClassificationSculpture
Provenance(Echo Lake Collaborative Conference, Newtown, PA), June 12–15, 2013, Echo Lake XV: Our Heads Are Round So Our Thinking Can Change Direction Charity Auction; purchased by Fleur S. Bresler, Rockville, MD, 2013; given to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2024
On ViewYes
Cave Paintings8 × 2 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 2.2× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.