The artist behind the RCMP Memorial at Riverfront Park is reflecting on the journey.
Newfoundlander Morgan Macdonald says it’s difficult for him to let go and move on after working for so long on the three sculptures.
He adds back in June 2014, the news of the shootings didn’t immediately sink in.
“You can’t wrap your head around it, and it’s only as the time went on, and you see the images of the funeral,” says Macdonald. “And then you’re thrust into the actual making the sculptures and meeting everyone involved and it becomes very personal after a while.”
Macdonald says he’s struggling to relinquish the story and process now the sculpture is finished.
“You know now I’m having to move on and look towards the future,” says Macdonald. “To see the three sculptures out of the foundry and not there, it’s difficult that way just as an artist to let go of that.”
He adds it was always his intention to include them in the creation of the sculptures.
“You’d want to have their story told, you’d want to be a part of it, you’d want to see the image that you want to see,” says Macdonald. “So having them part of it, that just makes it that much more special for me, and that much more special for the community.”
Macdonald says a particularly special memory of the process was including the families to help them tell the story of Doug, Dave and Fabrice.
He was humbled and grateful for the recognition from Nadine Larche, Angela Gevaudan, and Rachael Ross for his work.
Angela honouring artist Macdonald for his role helping them remember their husbands #Moncton #RCMP #NBNews pic.twitter.com/iaed7g63u4
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) June 4, 2016
