Wood Sculpture (Hobby) . Miscellaneous pencil sketches by Ted Shawn and background information pertaining to his sculpting hobby. According to a hand-printed description (author unknown) found in the collection: "In the winter of 1939-40, Ted Shawn, while touring by automobile to dance in some 125 cities with his company of men dancers, found himself often dreaming of doing sculpture in wood. The idea seemed to come of its own accord and repeatedly - although he had never attempted modeling in clay or drawing or painting. On arriving at his Florida studio, knowing nothing of proper tools or techniques, he began work on a well-cured limb of orange wood which had been given to him, and produced his first torso...His next piece, in cherry, was based on a well-known poster of Shawn in dancing pose, by Major Felten. Since then he has experimented with different types of sculptural problems , in various kinds of wood, and has come to find more relaxation in the carving of wood than in any other form of recreation. Being officially untutored, he modestly clings to his amateur standing, though his work is evidence that a feeling for rhythm and a knowledge of the body acquired through a dancing career may be clearly expressed in a medium more permanent than the dance."

Wood Sculpture (Hobby) . Miscellaneous pencil sketches by Ted Shawn and background information pertaining to his sculpting hobby. According to a hand-printed description (author unknown) found in the collection: "In the winter of 1939-40, Ted Shawn, while touring by automobile to dance in some 125 cities with his company of men dancers, found himself often dreaming of doing sculpture in wood. The idea seemed to come of its own accord and repeatedly - although he had never attempted modeling in clay or drawing or painting. On arriving at his Florida studio, knowing nothing of proper tools or techniques, he began work on a well-cured limb of orange wood which had been given to him, and produced his first torso...His next piece, in cherry, was based on a well-known poster of Shawn in dancing pose, by Major Felten. Since then he has experimented with different types of sculptural problems , in various kinds of wood, and has come to find more relaxation in the carving of wood than in any other form of recreation. Being officially untutored, he modestly clings to his amateur standing, though his work is evidence that a feeling for rhythm and a knowledge of the body acquired through a dancing career may be clearly expressed in a medium more permanent than the dance.", Box: 7, Folder: 24. Denishawn Dance Collection, MS Group 035. Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. https://findingaids.uflib.ufl.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/158031 Accessed January 18, 2026.