ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I have visited many coastal cities that have honored their fishing heritage by erecting well-deserved tributes to the brave men who have gone to sea. Blaine has that same strong fishing heritage but I wanted to tell the story from a different perspective. I wanted to create a tribute to the strong, resourceful, resilient and loving women who waited ashore for the fishing fleet to return.

When well into the project I was asked a very insightful question: "Does the Vigil reflect your own life experiences?" I was stunned! I hadn't thought about it. Later, when I did, the answer was "Yes." I was raised by my mother and grandmother during the Depression, which was very hard on them but not on me. For all of my adult life my wife Joan has been by my side through every crisis and joy. So perhaps on a personal level, the sculpting of "Vigil" is my tribute to the women in my life, particularly to Joan who has so enriched it.