LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA  On Thursday, April 2, Roger Halligan installed his sculpture, Iron Age, at Rock City Gardens in preparation for Earth Dayz, which begins Saturday, April 4.  This temporary piece of art is scheduled to be on display for the next few months in Critter Classroom at Rock City.

“It is about altering a place and making it extraordinary,” said Roger Halligan, sculptor of Iron Age.  “Standing a huge stone upright in a particular place was some of the first public, site-specific art.  The erection of the stone or stones designated itself and its place as particular and special.  The stone not only activated the space it occupied but it became symbolic as well, referencing beyond its place, time and materials.” 

Iron Age is strongly influenced by the megalithic stone constructions found in the British Isles, France and Ireland.  Halligan is drawn to these structures because they are some of the earliest large scale sculptures and they continue to have a strong impact on the modern viewer. 

“I make my art with steel and concrete mostly, manmade materials found commonly in our contemporary world,” said Halligan.  “The constraints and freedoms of our culture make these materials as available, accessible and reasonable for me to use as were the rocks used at sites like Stonehenge, Avebury or New Grange.” 
Roger Halligan has been creating sculptures for over 30 years.  He received his MFA with honors in Studio Arts from the University of Georgia in 1977.  After graduation he joined the newly formed Exhibit Design Department at the North Carolina Zoological Park where he was involved in the design and construction of natural habitat exhibits for African and North American animals.  He was instrumental in the development of techniques now used at that zoo in its construction of hardscape features such as faux rocks, waterfalls and faux trees.  In 1993 he was awarded the State of North Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence for his work in the design and construction of the Sonora Desert Exhibit. He left the zoo in 1992 to devote time to his fine art and sculptural hardscape work in the private sector.

He formed Two Oaks Studio with his artist partner, Jan Chenoweth, and in 2007 was awarded an ArtsMove Chattanooga Grant to relocate their home and studio to Chattanooga, TN.  A portfolio of his work can be found at www.rogerhalligan.com.

Earth Dayz runs April 4-12, 16-19 and 23-26.  For the event schedule of activities during Earth Dayz, or to purchase an annual pass to come back all year (less than the cost of two admissions), visit www.seerockcity.com/pages/Earth-Dayz.  Just six miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., Rock City is an enchanted, 4,100-foot walking trail showcasing lush gardens, caves and soaring rock formations.