2025

Wood, Leather, Neodymium, Chalk

About the piece:

This work critically examines the espantoon, an ornate wooden baton that originated from and is still closely associated with the Baltimore Police Department.

The striking end of the stick features an ornate design known as a burl head. However, due to the Baltimore dialect, this term has evolved into “barrel head.” When turning the wood, I made sure to emphasize the barrel shape of the head.

I created the chalk logo by reinterpreting the Fraternal Order of Police logo; instead of a badge, I illustrated a target. At the center of the target is a magnet ring, which repels the magnet at the end of the baton.


Images © Nicholas Bruno