Soap Sculptures of Buddha by Bassho
This project supports the artist’s reentry in 2025.
All pieces are signed.
Dimensions: approx. 2.5” x 2” each
We will contact you about available colors at the time of your order
Bassho’s words:
Soap carving is now part of my practice, for I listen to my Mantras and reach a state of Samadhi as I carve each "Little Buddha".
I start with holding the soap in my hand picturing the final product. I have to use a top to a Bic pen to carve with, for tools are very limited in prison. I was lucky to have taken an Art Class as I finished up my Associates Degree from Piedmont Community College, and the Professor himself was a Sculptor. I was able to up some rudimentary skills from him.
I learn with each carving, no two of them are alike. After carving my figure I use sand from our horse shoe pit to smooth it out as best I can. Then I choose my color according to my mood at that time which is very much intuitive. We only have access to white, blue, red, yellow and black, so sometimes I mix in order to change the hue. By far the longest process is the 50 or so layers of floor wax I use to seal my figure and give it a nice sheen.
The proceeds from the sale of these Buddhas will go toward the plethora of expenses I have upon release in the next couple of years..
1) I will have to file for bankruptcy due to losing property and having owned a small business at the time of the accident that led to my incarceration.
2) There is a possibility of there being court costs and fines--though 10% of my Prison pay has gone towards that for some time. I do not get updates on the amounts so I do not know the balance. (None of this can legally be declared on a Bankruptcy)
3) I will need to have money for a complete re-do--Phone, vehicle, clothes, and much of what we all take for granted to set up a home.
I may better know exactly what my needs are the closer I get to release, for I expect my support system will "fall into place" as I get closer.
Again, thank you for your donation to help me as I reintegrate into society, having become a better person from having had this experience.
This project supports the artist’s reentry in 2025.
All pieces are signed.
Dimensions: approx. 2.5” x 2” each
We will contact you about available colors at the time of your order
Bassho’s words:
Soap carving is now part of my practice, for I listen to my Mantras and reach a state of Samadhi as I carve each "Little Buddha".
I start with holding the soap in my hand picturing the final product. I have to use a top to a Bic pen to carve with, for tools are very limited in prison. I was lucky to have taken an Art Class as I finished up my Associates Degree from Piedmont Community College, and the Professor himself was a Sculptor. I was able to up some rudimentary skills from him.
I learn with each carving, no two of them are alike. After carving my figure I use sand from our horse shoe pit to smooth it out as best I can. Then I choose my color according to my mood at that time which is very much intuitive. We only have access to white, blue, red, yellow and black, so sometimes I mix in order to change the hue. By far the longest process is the 50 or so layers of floor wax I use to seal my figure and give it a nice sheen.
The proceeds from the sale of these Buddhas will go toward the plethora of expenses I have upon release in the next couple of years..
1) I will have to file for bankruptcy due to losing property and having owned a small business at the time of the accident that led to my incarceration.
2) There is a possibility of there being court costs and fines--though 10% of my Prison pay has gone towards that for some time. I do not get updates on the amounts so I do not know the balance. (None of this can legally be declared on a Bankruptcy)
3) I will need to have money for a complete re-do--Phone, vehicle, clothes, and much of what we all take for granted to set up a home.
I may better know exactly what my needs are the closer I get to release, for I expect my support system will "fall into place" as I get closer.
Again, thank you for your donation to help me as I reintegrate into society, having become a better person from having had this experience.
We will contact you about which colors are available at the time of your order.
