A circular memorial symbolizing both the courage of the hotshots and the grief of their families and us all.  The circle represents the Story Circle of ancient times, sometimes called wisdom circles or learning circles.  The circle is divided into twenty segments to represent the nineteen hotshots who perished and the lookout who survived.  The twentieth segment is removed from the circle as a symbolic Lookout.   The removed segment then becomes the Gateway entry to the Story Circle.  Each segment around the circle is a seat facing inward. Behind the seat is a raised back, each with a name and identifying description of a fallen hero along with physical opportunities to leave mementos, flowers, letters or to leave a chalk message.  Upon each seat back stands an heroic-size Abstract Hero Sculpture. In the center of the Story Circle is a scale replica of Granite Mountain. 

---

Connection

While simply open to  the world, the Entryway performs an important symbolic function.  As a portal, it represents entry to the new and to the Unknown, choices to be made, and making commitments.  It also symbolizes the separation of our hero admiration and our grief.  Passing through, we enter a sacred place of solitude and contemplation.

The Lookout performs many functions.  Though shaped as if to fit the Gateway exactly, it stands separate.  Its engraving tells the history of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and their final catastrophe.  Instead of carrying an Abstract Hero Sculpture, wispy abstract smoke streamers spiral high upward from the Lookout symbolically connecting earth with the sky.  The tallest smoke wisp also functions as a Sundial whose shadow tip reaches in to the Story Circle and touches the tallest peak of its Granite Mountain each year on June 30 at precisely 4:42 pm.

Contemplation

In art, we call a vertical line which bows inward near the top a Grief Line representing bowed head and shoulders.  Similarly, we call a vertical line curving outward at the top a Courage Line representing a hero’s shoulders thrust back and head facing up and out.  Story Circle combinesboth lines into one, representing at once, heroic courage facing out of the Story Circle and sorrowful grief facing in. 

​These nineteen white Hero Sculptures form an implied separation of the space inside the Story Circle but allow for interaction and photo posing opportunities.  The abstract sculpture’s hands form a cylinder (tipped up on the outside  of the circle and down on the inside) into which may be placed letters, flowers or, perhaps a hotshot’s Pulaski axe.  The heroes next to the Gateway have their hands outstretched slightly, inviting a visitor to physically reach out and become part of the circle. 

Contribution

The shorter smoke wisp, also a sundial, casts a shadow point at noon daily on a flat horizontal surface near, but outside, the Story Circle.  These noon-points, taken together over a year, form a figure-eight shape known as an    Analemma.  We mark the analemma so every day of a year is identifiable and can be re-marked by visitors with  personal or family occasions, with events in the history of the Granite Mountain Hotshots or perhaps other fallen firefighters.  The sundial symbolically reminds us of our movements across space during our time here on earth.  


Together, the Story Circle and Lookout provide many emotional entry points for family, visitors and firefighters from around the world to quietly experience, feel and remember the Granite Mountain Hotshots and to comfortably place ourselves in the story it tells. 

​

Your Team