Looking Back: The Harvey Manning Statue Project
Years of planning and preparation culminated on September 20, 2009, when the Harvey Manning statue was dedicated. The statue is situated next to the popular Rainier Trail at the intersection with Bush Street and within view of the Issaquah Community Center. The dedication program was emceed by Steve Williams, president of the club. Other speakers included Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger, City Councilman and former IATC president Dave Kappler, DNR Asset Operations Manager for Tiger Mountain Doug McClelland, IATC Vice Presidents Ken Konigsmark and Doug Simpson, Penelope Manning (Harvey's daughter), and sculptor Sara Johani. After the ceremony, a reception was held in Gibson Hall, a short walk away. The occasion also served to celebrate the club's 30th anniversary.
It was a herculean task for a small non-profit organization like the IATC to execute such a project, but the statue committee chairman, Doug Simpson, was up to the task. The fund-raising, artist selection, and coordination with the city, all received his careful attention.
Vice President Doug Simpson speaks to the supporters at the dedication event. (Photo by Ryan Fleisher)
The selection of the artist was a joint effort with the ad hoc committee and the City of Issaquah Arts Commission, represented by Gary Reul. In the end, the task was given to the Lateral Line Studio artists Sara Johani (sculptor) and Tom Jay (foundryman). The work of Tom Jay was known to the city as the artist/foundryman for the salmon sculpture at the Issaquah Fish Hatchery (entitled “Reaching Home”).
Statue creators Tom Jay (foundryman) and Sara Johani (sculptor) pose by the work at the unveiling event.
(Courtesy Sara Johani)
Artist Sara Johani went to great lengths to capture the essence of the subject, studying his clothing and even scrutinizing his son’s head (Paul) to refine the likeness. Family and committee members were consulted about how accurate the model's features were, including the contours of his hat, his glasses and his flannel shirt. Harvey's wife Betty, daughter Penny and members of the committee were pleased by Johani's artistic details. The review process included one trip to the Lateral Line studio at Chimacum, near Port Townsend. (Learn more about the artists at www.tomandsara.net .)
The primary inspirational photo for the work was taken by Larry Hanson on a backpacking trip to the Goat Rocks Wilderness in 1984. In it, Harvey is seen seated on some rocks, so acquiring and placing some suitable rocks became part of the project. Fortuitously, the Manning family volunteered some well-suited rocks from the family home on Cougar Mountain (which Harvey liked to refer to as the “200-meter hut”). Artist Johani selected four that aligned with her vision.
Two plaques were made for the piece – one to affix to the rock and another nearby to acknowledge major donors. Deciding upon the words to describe Manning was a challenge, but in the end, “Champion of the Issaquah Alps” won out.
Plaque affixed to one of the rocks of the piece. (Photo by Thomas Anderson)
The plaque acknowledging the artists and major donors was placed along the nearby sidewalk (i.e. the Rainier Trail). Most of the donors, corporate and individual, were connected to the Issaquah Alps cause in some way, but the broader conservation causes that were dear to Harvey were also represented, most notably, the North Cascades Conservation Council. His connection to that organization dates back to its founding in 1957, and his voice (sometimes under the pseudonym of the “Irate Birdwatcher”) helped establish the North Cascades National Park. All this, before the “Issaquah Alps” was even conceived.
Plaque honoring the artists and major donors. (Photo by Thomas Anderson)
An oft overlooked aspect of the piece is the inscription of some of the sayings of Manning. Particularly appropriate given his life as a prolific author and wielder of the pen as a weapon of change. On the little notebook in his left hand is “Make your world larger… by going slower.” A slogan also adorning a tee shirt Harvey was sometimes seen wearing.
Inscription on the little notebook. (Photo by Thomas Anderson, with lettering enhanced)
On the brim of the hat is a longer statement of philosophy: “Wilderness is not the business merely of hikers seeking refuge, but of the entire community of life.”
After the ceremony, the past and present presidents of the club gathered around the statue for a photo, only missing Gus Nelson.
A gathering of presidents at the Harvey Manning Statue. Left to Right: Barbara Johnson, David Kappler, Ken Konigsmark, Steve Drew, Doug Simpson, and Steve Williams.
(Photo by Ryan Fleisher)
Regular walkers along the Rainier Trail no doubt have observed that Harvey has a new neighbor - Jakob Two Trees, who took up residence last September. Jakob is the creation of artist Thomas Dambo from Denmark, where trolls are as common as Sasquatch in the Northwest. (You can learn more about Jakob and his Northwest siblings at www.nwtrolls.org ).
Maybe I have an overactive imagination, but I like to pretend Harvey and Jakob get together to tell jokes and stories when the humans aren’t around. It might go something like this…
