CHARLOTTE, Vt. (WCAX) – An arch made of stone and ice burns atop Mt. Philo.
“You know we had a lot of flooding this year, last year, and we’re all trying to figure out how we’re going to work together to build a better future, and that’s what’s at the heart of this project,” said Flynn Executive Director, Jay Wahl
A bright sun sets over the Adirondacks. On top of Mt. Philo, over 200 people sat in anticipation on a chill October night.
“That’s part of it, the tension, can we do it, can we do it?” said Wahl
In collaboration with the Flynn, two artists from British production company — Kaleider, craft an arch out of ice and stone.
“It kind of asks questions about how we’re going to work together to make a better future, how human ingenuity might save us since human ingenuity has given us some challenges,” said Wahl
The arch’s construction began at 5 p.m. In about an hour, the first attempt to get it standing on its own failed. An unsuccessful second try had many concerned. Some left, but most stayed, curious to see if it was possible.
And it was!
Then, came the fire which burned and burned. While the flames tried to melt the ice away, the arch stood tall. It was a night spent mostly in silence other than the voices of the few singing. The arch’s potential demise piques curious minds and re-writing the audience’s understanding of what it means to “let it burn” for 3 hours.
“The arts, I believe are non-negotiable, they’re our oxygen, they’re the way we understand ourselves, our future, our pasts, and each other,” said Wahl