SPUR
Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID. and Sun Valley, ID.
2016
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Spur was inspired by lava tube caves under the surface of Craters of the Moon National Monument in Central Idaho, where it was temporarily installed. The sculpture was also inspired by the history of the Intermountain West Railroad, particularly the spur line that once diverged north from the main tracks, abutting the National Monument into the Wood River Valley. Struck by its extraordinary geology, Grade digitally scanned the interior of a lava tube cave as the basis for the sculpture. Large enough for visitors to pass through, the sculpture is constructed of standing dead yellow cedar salvaged from Mitkof Island, Alaska. With its charred black interior surfaces, the journey through Grade’s sculpture alludes to the experience of exploring caves within the park. The sculpture’s vertical members are scaled to the thickness of railroad ties and the paired horizontal spines running the length of the sculpture evoke railroad tracks as well as mirroring the surrounding horizon lines of undulating mountain peaks. In October 2016, the sculpture was relocated and permanently installed in the Wood River Valley in Ketchum, Idaho.
IMAGES
Spur, Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID. and Ketchum, ID, 2016. Alaskan Yellow Cedar, 80’l x 13’h x 20’w. The interior surfaces have been flame-charred. On October 10, 2016, Spur was relocated and permanently installed in the city of Ketchum, Idaho (Sun Valley). The project was sponsored by Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Ketchum, ID, the city of Ketchum, ID. and the National Parks Service.
SPUR
Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID. and Sun Valley, ID.
2016
Spur was inspired by lava tube caves under the surface of Craters of the Moon National Monument in Central Idaho, where it was temporarily installed. The sculpture was also inspired by the history of the Intermountain West Railroad, particularly the spur line that once diverged north from the main tracks, abutting the National Monument into the Wood River Valley. Struck by its extraordinary geology, Grade digitally scanned the interior of a lava tube cave as the basis for the sculpture. Large enough for visitors to pass through, the sculpture is constructed of standing dead yellow cedar salvaged from Mitkof Island, Alaska. With its charred black interior surfaces, the journey through Grade’s sculpture alludes to the experience of exploring caves within the park. The sculpture’s vertical members are scaled to the thickness of railroad ties and the paired horizontal spines running the length of the sculpture evoke railroad tracks as well as mirroring the surrounding horizon lines of undulating mountain peaks. In October 2016, the sculpture was relocated and permanently installed in the Wood River Valley in Ketchum, Idaho.
IMAGES
Spur, Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID. and Ketchum, ID, 2016. Alaskan Yellow Cedar, 80’l x 13’h x 20’w. The interior surfaces have been flame-charred. On October 10, 2016, Spur was relocated and permanently installed in the city of Ketchum, Idaho (Sun Valley). The project was sponsored by Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Ketchum, ID, the city of Ketchum, ID. and the National Parks Service.
PROCESS
Spur was designed to be installed at multiple locations with an understructure buried one foot below grade. The wood ribs were made with three layers of wood and the twisting horizontal rail-like pairs on each side were made with two to four layers depending upon the complexity of the area.