ETHRIDGE COLLABORATIVE ART PROJECT

CHRIS ETHRIDGE MEMORIAL

This local man unexpectedly died in a cycling accident. His friends and community raised funds and the town gave permission for a memorial to be built. After an extensive public jury process, I was chosen and awarded the commission. I asked Chris's family and friends to donate rocks to the project; 'perhaps they had a stone from a particular walk, or a favorite spot they visited with Chris'.

The collected rocks were artistically incorporated into the curved base of the memorial.
This request enabled family and extended family to participate and give. Chris's Dad,who is a professor in Geology, gave rocks that were collected throughout out Chris's childhood, a small piece of poetic balance I found out when the package containing his gift arrived.
There is at least one rock from each continent and one rock from the three categories of rock type.
The large rock, sitting mid way on the sculpture, was collected by myself, Chris's partner and a dear friend. It was taken from a very steep section of mountain bike trail and has a high probability that Chris moved the rock when he built the trail.

14' H x 11' L x 8' W 2003. steel, bronze, stone, lead