This multi-faceted sculpture was carved from an uprooted tree stump that was thoroughly cleaned, dried and left to tan in the sun. That’s when the studio turned into an operating room of sorts – Joe Jbeily cut away whatever was disruptive, performed the necessary plastic surgery and then prepped for a birth. What takes nine months in nature can take anywhere from nine days to nine weeks in the artist’s world, depending on where his inspiration leads him. With this stump, there were seven roots to deal with. Four were cut away to make it workable and give it a sense of clarity and meaning. A whole menagerie emerged as a result: three dolphins, one deer, a pair of penguins, one bird, a bare-chested zookeeper and whatever else your imagination can conjure up!