Artist Reflects on Utah's Hospitality as He Departs with Monument Plans

In March 2025 the sculptor and his wife Traci arrived in Utah, drawn by the state's reputation for faith, family and civic duty. Over the past nine years he had completed a major World War I relief in Washington, D.C., and now envisions the Grand Liberty Arch as a national monument that reflects the full spectrum of American history. Early conversations with residents and leaders of This Is the Place Heritage Park were welcoming, and a Native American model even helped shape a figure for the design.

A proposal to place the arch near the Utah State Capitol was ultimately withdrawn after the Capitol Preservation Board failed to respond, leading the artist to conclude the site was unsuitable for a work of this magnitude. He leaves the state appreciative of the hospitality, new friendships, and artistic input he received, while the monument project remains in search of an appropriate venue.