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George T. Cooke

This old-fashioned travel bag was created by gluing basswood around the entire wooden briefcase. The added wood has been sculpted to duplicate the shape of a hand carried travel bag. Many folds and bulges were then carved to simulate the natural effects of both age and gravity on a well used soft sided leather bag. The original briefcase has been inserted into the carving and can be accessed through the bottom of the sculpture. It can be used as a secret compartment to store important papers or valuables. Travel tags and other items have been added to give authenticity to the work. The wood has been finished with an oil based material which darkens it slightly giving it the look of tan leather. An attempt has been made to simulate the look of a bag that has been used many times on travels within the United States and to Europe.
"Have Bag, Will Travel"
Basswood, leather lacing, string
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Bio

I studied woodcarving at the American Woodcarving School and have been carving wood for about 14 years, producing mostly relief carvings initially. More recently I have included more subjects in the round, such as an old leather briefcase and a child’s jacket, which won second best in show at the North Jersey Woodcarvers show in 2004. For the past 5 years I have been studying stone sculpture with Aileen

Fields, a sculptor in New York City. Most of these sculptures have been in alabaster and limestone. I carve original designs as well as everyday items not usually represented in wood or stone. I have also carved interpretations of others’ work, such as Escher’s Drawing Hands (carved in wood) and Michelangelo’s hands of God and Adam from the Sistine Chapel ceiling (carved in alabaster.)