Building Blocks by Anju Tumuluri

"Building Blocks" 
Dimensions: approx 4.6 feet tall, base is 12 inches and top is 6 inches, Weight: approx 29lb , 
Material: Grogeewemee Outdoor Sculpture clay, re-bar to stack totem pole. Installation: Ceramic totem pole is installed on re-bar covered by white pvc pipe(provided by the artist), recommend installation in shade/semi-shade but can handle full sun as well. Each piece is stacked on to the re-bar. Total 10 ceramic pieces. Each piece is low fired (bisque), glazed and mid fired to cone 6.
Creation of this totem pole manifested when I was travelling in Japan. I saw a school kid with huge backpack. It was raining and I had all the time to reflect on my past schooling. Each year we move to higher grades with different books, one built on the knowledge from past year. Without realizing the load/burden on those books to pave path for our future. In this totem pole, size of each book matters. Lower grade books representing immense weight on individual's futures growth and aspirations. Hence large size books at the bottom. Each subject and academic span consolidated into one book.