Gallery
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
- Michaelango
01
Art by the Falls,
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
June 2016.
walnut laminated Sculpture,
14” high.
Hudson, Ohio Show, 2015
is an early prototype sculpture used to determine full life-size dimensions for “The Journey” pieces.
Sculpted on old growth donated utility poles.
Completed, February, 2019
Laminated cedar, 5′ in height
“Peas” are removable.
Private Residence,
Detroit, MIchigan, 2016
Mr. Shankland says, “Within this pea pod, three peas had to be fitted after the interior of the pod was complete. They had to be able to stay inside and yet remain removable. The wonderful twisting motion is as simple as a blade of grass yet as complex as a Sperm Whale breaching.”
Carved from old growth cedar utility pole donated by a local utility company. The sculpture was a donation which in turn was bid on for the
National Annual Harvest for Hunger Food Drive.
Completed in 2011
carved from cherry wood, 13” high.
Donated to Ohio utility company for 2015
“Harvest for Hunger” food drive.
solid cherry sculpture to honor the
100th Anniversary of
Mark Twain’s death.
Research assistance provided by the
Mark Twain House, Hartford, Connecticut and
Hal Holbrook,
Mark Twain re-enactor.
Completed, 2010.
Private Collection,
David F. Shankland
sculpted from purpleheart wood donated by Ebb Haycock, Mr. Shankland’s friend, teacher and mentor.
Received “Best Sculpture” in a juried show.
Valley Art Center,
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
2015
is sculpted from laminated cherry wood, 34″ tall.
“One of my favorite pieces. I worked hard to catch the tenacity of this Pin Oak leaf to prevail against the elements and wind.” says Mr. Shankland
Completed, 1998
29” high, Completed in 1989
Mr. Shankland says, “This swirling upright piece was inspired by a whelk shell from a nature center. It is my interpretation of the animal that lived inside the spiraling shell.”
Sculpted in laminated walnut, 26” high.
Completed, 2007
Mr. Shankland says, “Such a common ordinary sight on a walk in the woods, yet a wonderful view of what is left behind when a tree falls.”
5’10” tall.
Within this peapod, three peas were fitted into the pod after the interior of the pod was complete. They had to be able to stay inside and yet remain removable. The wonderful twisting motion is as simple as a blade of grass yet as complex as a Sperm Whale breaching.”, says Mr. Shankland.
Completed, 2013
this small leaf sculpture is made from laminated walnut, 23″ high.
“Here is the beauty of a simple leaf holding on in the wind.”, says Mr. Shankland.
Completed, 1997
“Sculpture is the art of the hole and the lump.”
- Auguste Rodin
02
Based on the Northwest Native American tradition, David’s custom Totem Poles visually tell the story of an individual’s or family’s “Journey” – it’s sacred moments, it’s fond memories,
it’s legacy to itself and to the world.
Art by the Falls,
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
June 2016.
41’tall; 32’ above ground.
Private residence in northeast Ohio.
Installed, March 2014.
41′ tall; 32′ above ground.
Shown with Mr. Shankland.
Shown with remains of 42′ tent; built around the pole for protection during the
year-round, 10 month long climate required to achieve completion.
Installation day,
12′ above ground, 9′ underground.
Installed on site, Indian Lake, Pennsylvania.
Shown with Mr. Shankland and new owner.
June 28, 2014
“A thousand mile journey starts with a single step.”
- Lao Tzu
03
“The Journey” project in it’s early days, is an eight (8) piece series of full size figures depicting the ordeal of a person embarking on a dangerous life passage. These pieces show 1/4 scale models in clay fired and mounted for promotion and guidance.
Leaving
This is the first of eight full size figures depicting “The Journey”. This flee from danger – be it war, violence, addiction or abuse reflects – FEAR and COURAGE.
Ridgeline
“The Journey” unfolds with an overwhelming sense of UNCERTAINTY, yet RELIEF.
Food
Through a simple moment of nourishment, a sense of HOPE
becomes clear.
River Crossing
“The Journey” includes times of difficulty and challenge. However, FEAR and UNCERTAINTY begin to turn into RESILIENCE.
Sleep
Much needed rest allows for new dreams and the awakening assurance of NEW POSSIBILITIES.
Why?
Experiencing the universal question, WHY ME?
Exhaustion
With erratic sleep, unsure new steps, little sustenance and an uncertain future, complete mental, emotional and physical EXHAUSTION prevails.
Arrival
With a grand sense of new-found safety, GRATITUDE and VICTORY reign. The dawn of a NEW & FUTURE begins.
The fourth scene in “The Journey” Series which depicts a person making and executing a difficult and dangerous decision to walk away from a violent or unsafe life situation. This scene shows the character crossing river rapids. Sculpted from an old growth cedar utility pole. Height 5’, 2019.
“River Crossing”
This sculpture was awarded 1st place from a field of 350 entries. Sculpted from old growth cedar utility pole, 35” high.
November, 2020
This piece won 1st place in the Valley Art Center November, 2020 juried show.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
July, 2021
June, 2021
“Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop. “
- Michaelango
04
March, 2017
White oak carved to match the reversed medallion/layover crossing in the ceiling molding.
Round Room,
Manor House, June, 2021
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
Round Room ceiling,
Manor House.
Carving was completed to match the one remaining original and color matched to blend into the ceiling when reinstalled.
Approximately 9” in diameter.
Round Room, Manor House.
June, 2021
The copper roofed room experienced severe water damage from multiple roof leaks. Following on, the ceiling and walls suffered extensive
damage and discoloration.
Through staining, feathering and toning,
Mr. Shankland brought the room back to its original beauty.
March, 2017
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.
Close-up of water damage around the Game Room fireplace and wall.
Note drips, runs, and severe discoloration from leakage before restoration is completed by
Mr. Shankland.
March, 2017
Game Room showing water damage repair and restoration.
March, 2017
A chemical stain was used to create the color of the dark oak, then an oil stain, then lacquer top coats.
The weight of the bench is
approximately 300 pounds.
All carving was done by Mr. Shankland in exact duplication of the original bench.
This bench remains in the entry hall of
The Stan Hewet Hall and Gardens.
March, 2017
English Deacon Bench back panels. The red indicates where deepest wood removal was required. Areas were carved down 1/2″ uniformly to provide background depth and marked beginning of carving process.
Autumn, 2016
These areas were to be carved down ½” uniformly, in order to provide background depth. This also marked the beginning of the carving process.
Autumn, 2016
December, 2016
November, 2016
onto back panel board.
November, 2016
March, 2017
March, 2017
Note: picture of Mr. Shankland taken in 2021.
(completed) November, 2003
Boston Township Hall south wall.
Autumn, 2003
Autumn, 2003
“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. “
- Mark Van Doren
05
Here is Mr. Shankland’s teacher, mentor and friend for 46 years,
Ebb Haycock, at age 88,
is shown with his sculpture made from fiberglass, entitled “Dancers”. It is on display in the lobby of an
Assisted Living Center in Delaware, Ohio. Installed in 2015.
Mr. Haycock passed in 2018.
Mr. Shankland says, “Ebb taught me to love sculpture, he believed in me and helped me appreciate the gift I have and to push it as far as I can.”
Functional Literacy Ministry
Port-au-Prince,Haiti
2016-2017
Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
February, 2015
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
February, 2015
Summer Arts Camps
Students K-8
Completing the first of two (2) large Papier-mâché turtles.
2015