The Journey
David F. Shankland's - The Journey
An eight (8) figure series depicting a person making and executing a difficult and dangerous decision to walk away from a violent or unsafe life situation.
Any person – male or female, young or old – of any race or ethnic background – who has made a difficult decision to flee from a hardship: an immigrant, a refugee, someone who has left behind cycles of addiction and violence, an abused and overworked front line worker, an adult child floundering/fleeing from a dysfunctional family, or from any number of realities – will immediately empathize with each of the emotional states represented by these figures.
The clay mock-ups
Leaving
This is the first of eight full size figures depicting “The Journey”. This flee from danger – be it war, violence, addiction or abuse reflects – FEAR and COURAGE.
Ridgeline
“The Journey” unfolds with an overwhelming sense of UNCERTAINTY, yet RELIEF.
Food
Through a simple moment of nourishment, a sense of HOPE
becomes clear.
River Crossing
“The Journey” includes times of difficulty and challenge. However, FEAR and UNCERTAINTY begin to turn into RESILIENCE.
Sleep
Much needed rest allows for new dreams and the awakening assurance of NEW POSSIBILITIES.
Why?
Experiencing the universal question, WHY ME?
Exhaustion
With erratic sleep, unsure new steps, little sustenance and an uncertain future, complete mental, emotional and physical EXHAUSTION prevails.
Arrival
With a grand sense of new-found safety, GRATITUDE and VICTORY reign. The dawn of a NEW FUTURE begins.
The final life sized figures
The fourth scene in “The Journey” Series which depicts a person making and executing a difficult and dangerous decision to walk away from a violent or unsafe life situation. This scene shows the character crossing river rapids. Sculpted from an old growth cedar utility pole. Height 5’, 2019.
“River Crossing”
This sculpture was awarded 1st place from a field of 350 entries. Sculpted from old growth cedar utility pole, 35” high.
November, 2020
This piece won 1st place in the Valley Art Center November, 2020 juried show.
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
July, 2021
June, 2021