Alexander would pry chunks of stone from construction sites on Staten Island and replicate the classical figures he saw in the city's museums with files and old screwdrivers. I was emulating those sculptures. He originally moved to Durham 14 years ago to work as a specialized surgical technician at the Duke Cancer Center because of his steady and strong hands. Although his first love in sculpting was for the human figure, his later work tends to tread a thin line between the abstract and the figurative. Organic forms influence most of his abstract sculpture.
New creations tend to lean toward a bigger and harder theme.
Of course, like any sculptor, I'm always looking to go bigger. The problem is, with stone, it's a bit overwhelming. I mean, just a few years ago to get a piece of carving stone up on a pedestal was an all-day project. Since Alexander never received any formal training, all his work is done with hand tools - he only uses power tools for the finishing touches. Most sculptors who were schooled in modern techniques tend to use pneumatic chisels for some of the heavy cutting.