Posted by | October 18, 2020

Paul Harris Monument

The simplified plaster bust of Harris (on the left) was used to ‘point’ the marble carving by Evan Morse. Image courtesy of Evan Morse.

Paul Harris Unveiling: 6th October 2020

Paul P. Harris founded Rotary International, a humanitarian organization that continues to help millions of people to thrive.  Colleague Evan Morse will be using the plaster cast of my original clay sculpture to carve Mr. Harris’s portrait into marble.  This will be the eighth sculpture for the Rutland Sculpture Trail in Rutland, VT.

With an organizational motto of SERVICE ABOVE SELF and my own understanding of the man Mr. Harris became, I did not wish to simply place a man’s likeness on a pedestal. Hopefully the wheels will draw viewers in and highlight the work Rotary International focuses on. Six aims are in gold at the center of each wheel: promoting peace, fighting disease, saving lives, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.

With Rotary International’s organizational motto of SERVICE ABOVE SELF and my own understanding of the man Mr. Harris became (one steeped in and appreciative of humility), I did not wish to simply place a man’s likeness on a pedestal. Hopefully the wheels will draw viewers in and highlight the work Rotary International focuses on. Their six aims are in gold at the center of each wheel: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.

 

Working on the clay without the wheels...

Working on the clay without the wheels…the scale is 1.5 times life-size.

 

An initial concept sketch shows a younger Harris than the one I ultimately sculpted.

An initial concept sketch shows a younger Harris than the one ultimately sculpted.