It was in 1995 that Paul began working on a cross-section of a maple tree which had a wedge-shaped split. He sanded, coated and polished it. Using the open split to make a stand, a work of art emerged. As Paul explained to Evert "Bart" Bartholomew, “I counted the age rings of this wood and found 84 of them. I am 84 years old, so this tree and I came alive at the same year. Its title “Born in 1911" refers both to the art and the artist. The sculpture now stands in the Residents Gallery, across the hall from the doorway that leads to the Workshop.

Born in 1911

Over the years The Three Graces deteriorated and so in 2009 it needed to be reconditioned. However the sculpture was not repainted to its original color. It is now polished metal and has been reinstalled near Court 62 in Rushmore.

The photograph below, taken in the Workshop during the reconditioning process, nicely shows the scale of The Three Graces.

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It was during his days working in the building industry that he began to create constructs such as Exercise in Tectonics, a 3-dimensional wall hanging that is mounted at the Johnson Free Public Library in Hackensack. During those years Paul studied at both the New School and the Sculpture Center in Manhattan and began to work in various media such as stone, metal and marble and especially in wood.

Several of Paul’s smaller sculptures were willed to benefit to the Thrift Shop. An exhibit and auction were held. Medford Leas purchased some of the art for permanent display. Jane Bourquin purchased Balancing Act as a gift for a friend. Infinity II was also sold at that time as were several more for which we do not have photographs.

Infinity II