Artisan Wall Sculpture featuring Native Fieldstone in Shelburne MA

The Great Wall sculpture is a freestanding stone sculpture measuring approximately 75' in length and measuring in height between 9' and 12'. The sculpture is a double-sided stone wall incorporating five schist 'columns' harvested from a nearby forest and transported to the site; and two quartzite/schist columns quarried on site. These large stone columns are surrounded with a mosaic of quartzite/schist wall stone.

The sculpture took a collaborative effort of almost four months time, including site-work preparation and setting of the large columns by W.R. Hillman & Sons, engineering the footings and placement of the large columns by John Mooney, and CountryScape Stonemasons Justin Bardwell and John Buxton to create the intricate masonry surrounding the columns.

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The idea for the sculpture and its general scale and shape was conceived by the client and inspired by the artistry of Lew French. Under these loose guidelines, the specific details of how the different elements would look and work with one another were left to the imagination of Justin Bardwell and John Buxton to design the sculpture on-the-fly.

Playing off the unique fissures and characteristics of the larger columns, interesting cavities and shadow-lines were created throughout the sculpture, and large 'floating' accent stones were placed into the end sections of the sculpture. The smooth and flowing cap line ties the whole sculpture together.

The result is an impressive piece of modern art exhibiting the ingenuity and creativity of all involved.