Interview with Jon Doody

From a hefty block of granite roughly 12 feet long and two feet wide, Jon plans to create a pair of clock hands, pointing skyward. He even has a title in mind for this piece. “High Noon” will symbolize time, he says: “how things change, and how they don’t.”  

The finished sculpture will rise about eight feet in height; the remainder will need to be buried in the ground for stability. Jon is also considering the idea of making the sculpture also serve as a sundial. 

Many locals and visitors are already familiar with Jon and his work. As artist in residence at Stevens Commons, he created the formidable granite sturgeon which is now installed in Granite City Park on the Hallowell waterfront.  While the sculpture took form, he was visited by folks attending the weekly farmers’ market, families, residents, and local workers on lunch break.

“Stonework is physically often loud, heavy and dangerous,”

Says Jon. For him,

“the mental process is definitely boosted by the energy and encouragement I get from people”

who watch him and engage in conversation. He enjoys the rapport; and creating art before a live audience in a symposium setting has taught him humility. While he is serious about his art, he has learned not to take himself too seriously.

Since every block of stone is different and unique, Jon explains, you have to be flexible, and expect the unexpected, being prepared for unintended design changes. “Sculpting is a reductive process,” he declares.  In other words, when you are working with stone, there is no such thing as an eraser… or a do-over.