My inspiration for the sculpture Four Gates is from Mark Helprin’s Winter’s Tale.

There is a short chapter at the end of the first third of the book, page 219, titled Four Gates. Here is an excerpt from the chapter:

“To enter a city intact it is necessary to pass through one of the new gates. They are far more difficult to find than their solid predecessors, for they are tests, mechanisms, devices, and implementations of justice. There once was a map, now long gone, one of the ancient charts upon which colorful animals sleep or rage. Those who saw it said that in its illuminations were figures and symbols of the gates. The east gate was that of acceptance of responsibility, the south gate that of the desire to explore, the west gate that of devotion to beauty, and the north gate that of selfless love. ”

I am combining my thoughts about Vitruvius’ man extended to the diameter of his reach, one diameter my size, or 78″, one 84″, one 90″ and one 96″. So I have imagined a sculpture for four people to interact with and create a gateway into a space of connection.

Here are a few more working drawings and photographs.