My Vision for the Newport Beach
Marines Memorial

The challenge with this memorial was bringing all the elements and the City’s requirements together to its essence and still being able to express strength, order and honor.

I intend to evoke curiosity by capturing a passer-by’s attention
such as the tilted American flag. In my art I always strive for
interactivity with the viewer. The letter M may not be viewed
as the letter M, but a modern sculpture, or both. Depending
upon your viewpoint, the flag may appear as if it is positioned
on a mountaintop or hovers over a bluff.

To amplify the dramatic aspects, I have placed the sculpture
in the pass of the sun to be able to use the natural lighting
and shadows.

I elevated the Marines sculpture with two steps to signify the
elevated honor to those memorialized. A pedestal also helps
events such as anniversaries or the laying of wreaths on
Memorial Day adding esthetical expression.

The Emotional Expression of this
Marines Memorial

I did not want to simply evoke emotions of sorrow or guilt
for fallen solders, as is so often the case with memorials.
These sentiments of loss don’t allow us to see the bright
ide/positive aspects of the services the US Marines Crops
provide to us. The US Marines allow us to live our lives in
peace and harmony with freedom and prosperity for each
individual. As protectors of our believes and rights they
allow us to built cities like Newport Beach that can look
into a bright future and flourish.

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Connection between Newport Beach and
The US Marines

I designed this memorial in a manner where a viewer
might conceive a tie-in between both the US Marines
and Newport Beach through the use of various elements:

1. The compass in the base expresses the maritime
theme of Newport Beach. For the Marines who are
closely related to the Navy the compass represents
a major navigational tool and symbol of deployment
in all four corners of the world.

2. The statue appears to be a letter M that could be
made out of the letter N.

3.In both plaques I am detailing the relationship
between Marines and Newport Beach and the 1/1
Marines and the city.

4. By the shape of the statue with its tilted flag,
I paid homage to the most powerful Marines image
that of the famed photo of Joe Rosenthal’s "Flag Raising"
ART WITH PURPOSE
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link to Michaell's other art displayed

The Emotional Expression of this Marines Memorial

Connection between Newport Beach and The US Marines

The Emotional Expression of this
Marines Memorial

Connection between Newport Beach and
The US Marines