Carving stone into art necessitates a willingness to embrace solitude. It's this ability to be alone with a piece of rock for hours that allows Squamish artist Patrick Sullivan to breathe life and love into public works that touch the strolling masses.Outside his Garibaldi Highlands home, Sullivan can be heard chipping away on the Last Love Series 2, 3, 4 & 5 - his third public commission in two years for Whistler as part of its Village Gate Bridge Public Art Project. "It's a very isolating, solitary activity," said Sullivan. "But it has to be to do that kind of work. You have to get intimate with the stone - especially the big ones. You have to get a feel for it because you have to make it come alive."Four large pieces of Whistler black basalt stand in a row under a tarp set to defend the artist and his subjects against the elements for the next few months until they are ready to be erected on the corners of the Village Gate Bridge.Sullivan, 56, was awarded the $30,000 commission after winning an open competition run by Whistler's Public Art Committee. "It's probably the most important commission of my career - these four pieces on the bridgeheads," he said.It is obvious Sullivan, whose work can also be seen locally in Pavilion Park, is quickly becoming a favourite in Whistler. His proposal expands on the original Last Love piece that's been standing at Creekside near the Lake Placed Road train station since 2006. He formed the five tonnes of black marble in dedication to his wife Sharon. The piece's images are intended to symbolize eternal love and commitment to marriage.Sullivan imagines the following four pieces creating a "lovers' stroll" in and out of the village, encouraging strength and healing of the viewers' relationships. Since the art is intended for a public space, he wants to touch on natural human sentiment. "Love is a universal thing and I think the shapes reflect the natural environment," he said. "It's a theme that the majority of people relate to and with my public art I do think about people. I see public art as a healing thing."The texture and shapes will reflect the area's architecture while incorporating international and multicultural styles in a unique way, he said. For the competition, he spent about 100 hours creating limestone models of the designs. Parks Planner and Public Art Committee member Kevin McFarland said Sullivan's expression through texture and form is what separated him from the other entries."To have something so expressive is really appealing," he said. "He has a very nice organic flowing style and he's very much a professional. He's been doing this for a long time and has great ability."Sullivan said he feels honoured by the prospect of having his interpretations of love guiding residents and tourists over the bridge on an average day, let alone during the 2010 Olympics. He sees his four stone carvings as conductors of common emotion."People give you power and the stone gives you power and the stone gives people power. It's going to be a pretty powerful place with four pieces on each column."The project is expected to be completed before next summer.
