Soaring Stones

Soaring Stones
The art installation at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington
Map
ArtistJohn T. Young
Year1990 (1990)
TypeSculpture
Medium
LocationPortland, Oregon (1990–2006)
Walla Walla, Washington (2007–present)
Coordinates46°04′13″N 118°19′55″W / 46.070238°N 118.331844°W / 46.070238; -118.331844
OwnerPioneer Place, Ltd. (1990–2006)
John T. Young (2006–2007)
Whitman College (2007–present)

Soaring Stones, also known as Rouse Rocks, Soaring Rocks, and Stones on Sticks,[1] is a 1990 granite-and-steel sculpture by John T. Young. It was first installed in the Transit Mall of Portland, Oregon, and was later sited as Soaring Stones #4 at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. The sculpture was commissioned for $100,000 to replace a fountain that was removed during construction of Pioneer Place.

During the construction of the MAX Light Rail in 2006, it was removed and returned to Young, who then donated the work to Whitman College. The sculpture is intended to represent the "interface between man and nature"; it features six irregular Washington granite rock forms installed in a row, in order of ascending height. The work inspired David Glenn, professor of music at Whitman College, to compose a piano quintet piece titled "Sculpture Garden for Piano Quintet" for the 2009 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.

  1. ^ "Soaring Stones, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.