One of the things I enjoy about making art is the process — from a project’s first simple thought to the journey of making that idea a reality. And once you have an idea, you’ll go to any lengths, no matter how ridiculous or time consuming or painstaking, to see it through. What I appreciate most is the decision-making that happens along every step of the way, and how the evolution of the process directly impacts the final realization.

I recently visited my friend Rory Mahon at his home studio and witnessed part of his process. For his new brick sculpture, he has adapted various tools and a lathe to turn a 14-inch diameter brick cylinder. He’s working outdoors and is using every minute of daylight to complete this sculpture. It was interesting for me to experience this part of his process — to learn why and how he crafted the tools, to hear the sounds, to watch the gears turn and see how the brick responded — as it went beyond being about an object. It became a performance.

This sculpture will be installed and on view outside the Arts Council of Princeton in May.