Loon Bench by Laura Corsiglia

Artist's Statement

Loon Bench is dedicated to the Loon, one of the most beautiful, enigmatic and melodic birds of this region. Loons grace our saltwater areas all winter and repair to summer lakes to rendezvous with their mates, dance for each other and nest. The Pacific Loon's call is a blast of loveliness that could be answered only with a line, a heartbeat or an opera. Loons have lived in their present form for 60 million years. I hope that Loon Bench will encourage viewers and sitters to dream and contemplate the Loon both as actual bird and as imaginative ancestor, one who helps to make the world, since long before humans were born. The Bench also recognizes a tradition of spirit seats where we hope to offer to the Loon a perch so inviting that she may decide to land here—incantations or concerts, offerings or flamenco are little different. We do our best each time with the stage we have.