It may not be as famous or as big as Stone Mountain, Mount Rushmore or the Easter Island sculptures, but Otis Shinn left his mark in Jackson County.
Where is this sculpture, you ask?
It is on Parchment Valley Road. When the foilage is off the trees, you can see the head from I-77. The six foot tall carving is approximately one mile north of the Fairplain exit.
Why did he carve this massive face on a rock cliff?
I don't know.
Does anyone out there have the answer to this question?
Otis also carved a bust of President Thomas Jefferson in 1932. It sat on a pedestal in the front yard of the old Shinn home place. it was eventually sold to an antique dealer.
A carved lion, almost life size, also sat on a pedestal in the front yard. It is gone now, too.
Go on a drive this fall and see the large sculpture. The majestic face still watches the cars as they whiz by. Tell everyone you saw Jackson County's version of Stone Mountain.
Otis Shinn died in 1962 at the age of 63, but his legacy lives on in the chiseled stone face on Parchment Valley Road.
I've never heard of Shin or the face-but think it is so neat! Wonder if he carved it-just because he could? Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteCool beans! I'll have to look for it when the leaves are gone. Never knew something like that existed in Jackson County!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet, I found your sweet comment on my blog and came over to visit. I just love your blog! Blessings, Kathleen
ReplyDeleteThere was an article in the paper some years ago about Mr. Shinn's carving. I can't remember if the article offered a reason for itm but I think it said that he just liked to carve, the rock cliff was there, so he carved it!
ReplyDeleteI always look for that face when I'm traveling 77. Thank you for posting the photo! But didn't you hate it when someone painted it silver? What was that about? It looks like most of the paint has worn off now.
So it would stand out for people to see I read.
DeleteI found that newspaper article in the Library. In the article his cousin said Otis could do anything he set his mind to. He said he never gave any explanation of them that he knew of.
ReplyDeleteI heard they painted it so it could be seen better from the interstate.I forgot who they said painted it.
I lived just down the road a few miles from this "Man In The Mountain"...I passed it everyday. I hate to hear that his two other sculptures were sold. How sad...he was a Jackson County Legend!
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