Throughout his career, James Surls has explored the dynamic balance between life and death, creation and destruction. Surls spent many years of his life in East Texas, and he drew inspiration from the landscape of the Piney Woods that surrounded his studio in Splendora, north of Houston.  

The 13-foot-tall I Am Building with the Axe, the Knife, and the Needle's Eye is constructed out of a variety of wood that Surls was able to gather in the forests around his studio. The combination of these found elements (such as the inverted tree trunk that forms the figure's body) and the more finely worked tools emphasizes Surls' interest in the dynamics between nature and culture. The twisting forms that define the head and feet evoke the physical powers of a tornado and the frenetic energy of the artist as creator. Ultimately, the sculpture is a self-portrait of the artist at work.