James Grashow’s “The Cathedral” is a five-foot-tall wood sculpture of Jesus Christ bearing a cathedral on his back while sinister creatures — many of them demons — flock around his feet. Credit… Bryan Haeffele. [New York Times caption and illustration]
James Grashow’s sculpture “The Cathedral” emblemizes poignantly for me how splendiferous churchiness weighs on the spirit of its namesake. But that’s an aside. What I like most is his enthusiasm for cardboard.
Grashow can wax poetic about the wonders of cardboard. “The great thing about cardboard is it’s mistake proof,” he said. Because “it knows it’s going to be trash,” it is “grateful to have the opportunity to become something more.”
A few of Grashow’s monkeys, which he sculpted from cardboard and then cast in bronze.l.. Credit… Bryan Haeffele. [New York Times caption and illustration]
“Beginnings are the most difficult,” he said. “Being in the process in the middle of the project is phenomenal.” He likened his creative experience to an enormous spiral. “The first steps are unbelievably sluggish, but as it quickens and the vortex keeps spinning around, you can’t wait to get up in the morning and approach the work.”
Grashow in his work space that is featured in the documentary “Jimmy & the Demons,” which follows his quest to complete “The Cathedral.” Credit…Jennifer Wastrom. [New York Times caption and illustration]
(George Gene Gustines, “James Grashow Documentary Focuses on Life, Death and ‘The Cathedral,’” New York Times, 6-1-2025)
I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.
EthicalDative 
‘Beginnings Are the Most Difficult’
James Grashow’s “The Cathedral” is a five-foot-tall wood sculpture of Jesus Christ bearing a cathedral on his back while sinister creatures — many of them demons — flock around his feet. Credit… Bryan Haeffele. [New York Times caption and illustration]
James Grashow’s sculpture “The Cathedral” emblemizes poignantly for me how splendiferous churchiness weighs on the spirit of its namesake. But that’s an aside. What I like most is his enthusiasm for cardboard.
Grashow can wax poetic about the wonders of cardboard. “The great thing about cardboard is it’s mistake proof,” he said. Because “it knows it’s going to be trash,” it is “grateful to have the opportunity to become something more.”
A few of Grashow’s monkeys, which he sculpted from cardboard and then cast in bronze.l.. Credit… Bryan Haeffele. [New York Times caption and illustration]
“Beginnings are the most difficult,” he said. “Being in the process in the middle of the project is phenomenal.” He likened his creative experience to an enormous spiral. “The first steps are unbelievably sluggish, but as it quickens and the vortex keeps spinning around, you can’t wait to get up in the morning and approach the work.”
Grashow in his work space that is featured in the documentary “Jimmy & the Demons,” which follows his quest to complete “The Cathedral.” Credit…Jennifer Wastrom. [New York Times caption and illustration]
(George Gene Gustines, “James Grashow Documentary Focuses on Life, Death and ‘The Cathedral,’” New York Times, 6-1-2025)
(c) 2025 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
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About JMN
I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.