Modern Totem

Columbus sculptor Martin Beach created Modern Totem out of masabi black granite from Minnesota, the process took him about 800 hours. 

Beach said, “Totems have been a symbol of community, identity, kinship, not just in the pacific-northwest, but also in many totemic cultures across the globe, and a symbol that I believe to be perfect for a space designed to exemplify those traits.”

The library’s stone steps came from the same quarry.

Related links

• See more sculptures by Martin Beach 
• See a feature story and more photos (p. 84)
• See photos from the installation

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