Posted on May 9, 2021
Sculptor Harvey Fite died on this date in 1976.
And that put an end to his decades-long project he named Opus 40. He included the number “40” in the name because he thought it would take him 40 years to complete. Tragically, at the 37-year-mark, while working on the site, Fite fell and died.
So…Opus 40 is not completely 100% complete – but this result on one man’s artistry over 37 years is 100% amazing!
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| Fite was inspired by his work reconstructing Mayan sculptures. He particularly admired their dry-stone construction. He learned to do dry-stone work and |
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| Opus 40 is built in a disused bluestone quarry Fite purchased. |
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| Harvey Fite started off adulthood as an actor in a traveling troupe. He learned that he adored woodworking, and he became a sculptor of wood and stone. He was a professor at Bard College for 40 years. |
And now regular folks like you and me get to visit Opus 40! What you need to know is that it’s located in New York, near Woodstock, and it is run as a non-profit sculpture park.
Also on this date:
Archeologist Howard Carter’s birthday
Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie’s birthday
Anniversary of the first laser beam to the moon
Anniversary of the first American cartoon
Birthday of author / illustrator Eleanor Estes
Liberation Day in Guernsey and Jersey
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Anniversary of the Consecration of Lincoln Cathedral
Europe Day
Heroes’ Day in Moldova
Mother’s Day in the U.S.
(Second Sunday in May)
(Second Sunday in May)
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest boards for:
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May holidays
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May birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in May
And here are my Pinterest boards for:
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June holidays
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June birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in June