AragornArtist: Aragorn
Date Received: February 11, 2022
RFP: Gold Star Families Monuments
The theme of this sculpture is an invitation to contemplate the profound dualities of
Life and Death…
Designed to evoke reflection on the Regimentation ,Efficiency, Unity of purpose,
Strength, Bravery and ultimately Sacrifice that a soldier gives for his country. These
concepts are embodied in a large triangular steel panel with cut out repeated
silhouettes of a US Soldier, stacked in a well ordered pyramid format, yet fallen at
45 degrees. The lines between the soldiers would give ample space for the
placement of soldiers name, regiment and rank information.
The fallen sheet is supported and held in position by a counter poised sheet of steel
that intersects half way up the triangle shape. The supporting steel sheet is a
misshapen triangle shape made up of a randomized flow of silhouetted human
figures that represent the emergent souls of the fallen soldiers…arching up from the
ground to lift the viewers vision as the souls seemingly float away into the sky.
The two intersecting steel plates would be painted in different colors, or patinas.
The rigidity of the fallen soldiers will be contrasted with the curvature of the rising
souls plate. These symbolic oppositions will, I hope, inspire and offer peaceful
contemplation in the viewers mind. But what I hope to be the most powerful magic
of this sculpture is the constantly changing myriad of human shaped shadows of
both soldiers and their souls mingling on the base and surrounding pathways.
These silhouetted figures will be given an eternal and animated life energy when
illuminated by the sunshine through the day or at night by moon light…(or subtle
electric lighting)
What I hope to offer the viewers of this sculpture is an illustrative and figurative
interpretation of the soldiers roll and sacrifice. My sculpture is intended to
humanize, immortalize, symbolize the fallen- yet risen soldiers of the 5 Star
Families . The message is delivered with the simplicity of intersecting sheets of
steel. From my research into military memorials of the past this ,non traditional,
informal , non austere and far from somber memorial will, I hope, fit with the up
beat, healthy and positive outlook of La Quinta residents.
Although I haven’t had time as yet to research fabrication costs etc of such a
sculpture, I have a hunch that this can be cut and made with relative ease
,efficiency and low cost by CNC laser or water jet cutters in the Palm Springs area,
hence greatly reducing transportation costs form my studio in the Virgin Islands.
The simplistic nature of the structure, would require minimal installation
complexities….and ,I hope, offer a lasting much spoken of and photographed
monument that will attract attention and meditation by visitors to La Quinta for
generations to come.