Sunday, January 26, 2014

Moose Myth's Blaze of Glory


Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein's sapling sculpture Moose Myth, that has graced downtown Concord for the past two years, made a final appearance at the initiating event of the Black Ice Tournament at White Park in Concord. At 4pm Friday January 24, 2014 the mighty moose was immersed in flames, and was sent out in a final poetic blaze of glory.

Moose Myth began as a public art piece in Portsmouth NH. After a sultry summer and fall it wintered up north at the University of New England "Little Jewel" of an Art Gallery in Portland Maine. From there it came south again to commemorate the "Smile" building on Main Street Concord. Facing the Capital Center for Performing Arts, Moose Myth was an iconic landmark.

Like the Old Man on the Mountain, NH weather and life's ravages caressed Moose Myth with a patina of fatigue. Occasional broken limbs and bark fall hinted that the mighty moose should retire. On Friday, January 24, 2014 it was moved to White Park and donated to the classic Black Ice Tournament by its current owner, Steve Duprey.

Update: The Concord Monitor covered the story, January 25, 2014 and February 3, 2014.