New ‘Maloria’ sculpture at Rock City combines, art, nature and folklore
Rock City has completed the installation of its most recent sculpture, Matthew Dutton’s “Maloria, Mother of the Wild.”
Dutton was chosen anonymously from several artists earlier this year for a commissioned piece that would tie in art, nature and the heritage of Rock City Gardens. It has been placed along the Enchanted Trail, making it the seventh piece in the Rock City Art Installation initiative since 2009.
“The site for installation was chosen due to its 360-degree viewing opportunity, which is unusual in the Gardens given the nature of the rock formations and the trail,” says Will Jackson, senior manager of innovation for See Rock City, in a news release. “The space is on a high rock shelf above our Fallow Deer Habitat and below the Swing-A-Long Bridge, which gives guests incredible views including the opportunity to see the piece from above. This installation also marks our first piece to be placed on the lower half of the Enchanted Trail, which has a more woodland, fairy-tale presence that is perfect for the content of Dutton’s work.”
Dutton describes the sculpture as “a figure designed to evoke a sense of whimsy, history and magic.”
“Maloria reaches out to gesture the deer below, while a small songbird lands on her finger,” he says. “Her appearance is stoic, reminiscing days of lore and fairy tale. Her long cloak drapes to the ground like heavy sackcloth sheltering her from the elements, while adding to the mystery of her identity. A protector and guardian of the gardens, she communicates with the animals and gnomes that reside at Rock City to ensure the longevity of its natural splendor.”
Jeff Raabe, director of operations for SRC, says the choice of Dutton has extra meaning as he is not only an accomplished artist but a past employee of the company and longtime friend.
“The piece meets all of our criteria, including the connection to European folklore and Rock City’s rich heritage,” Raabe says. “It is a perfect fit for bringing out the original historic vision of the gardens as well as being beautifully sculpted.”
Previous artists whose works live at Rock City Gardens are Roger Halligan, Isaac Duncan, John Henry, John McLeod, Michael Brandt and Jack Denton. Rock City is also home to a recasting of Jules Moigniez’s “Eagle,” perched near Lover’s Leap.