Grinnell Monument 017   (1 of 4)   View Original Image

Concept For A Grinnell Monument  -  Unfortunately I don't have a scanner that can record 18" by 24" drawings, so the crisp, detailed architectural style drawing that shows all four sides is somewhat distorted (I had to photograph it on my drawing table). At any rate, I've toyed, as a thought experiment, with an idea for a Grinnell monumental sculpture/stele for years. This variation is similar to my other ideas (in fact I used part of the design in another gallery). Each side represents a part of the school's history or a concept:The first side tells the story of Grinnell's founding and it's role in abolition, the development of the frontier, and the sacrifices of the Civil War. The second side depicts the cyclone that destroyed the campus yet solidified the school's character through the subsequent rebuilding process. The third side shows a lush and yielding landscape flowing from a giant hydro-electric dam... an ode to the role of Grinnellians in developing not only Depression-era projects but developmental projects in general. The final side is intended to emulate the torch that was once on the side of Darby gym... a salute of sorts to alumns across the years.

Though the drawing is unmarked in terms of dimensions and materials (deliberately so), my instinct is to give it just enough mass to invoke both the sublime and the monumental... meaning that it would be cut to be about 10' by 40' (the designs would be carved in relief).

James Dinnerville  

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