Waterfront sculptures speak ‘to community and history’

Mark Herrington’s hands are covered with grey dirt and dust. When he sits down, he takes off his work boots and a small rock tumbles out.

“I’ve probably gone through $1,000 worth of diamond blades,” he smiles.

Herrington’s blades could carve through bank vaults, but the sculptor has been whittling a five-tonne stone slab down to two over the last four weeks.

Herrington is part of the Sculpture Nova Scotia symposium that took place at the Halifax waterfront for the last month. A group of sculptors from around the world have been working on various carvings, allowing the public to see their work in progress.

The symposium was inspired by similar projects around the world.

“The hope for us is to prove the concept in Nova Scotia and to keep the idea going as a regional event,” said Pamela Crace, spokesperson for Sculpture Nova Scotia, in an email.

The sculptures will be finished on Friday and displayed on the waterfront for Nocturne. After that, Herrington’s work will be transported to the Black Cultural Centre.

“I had to make something that spoke to community and history,” he said.

As an abstract artist, Herrington found this to be a difficult but rewarding challenge, enjoying the outdoor working environment.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “I would apply again.”

“It’s going to be kind of sad to see the project come to an end,” said Crace. “The community support we’ve received … has been overwhelmingly generous.”

Crace also said the organization will try to bring the symposium back in 2017.

View the slideshow

[idealimageslider slug=”sculpture-work-space”]