Is it a wall or a fence ?
It began as a concept to replace the existing fence with something that would fit into the vernacular flavour of the local landscape and specifically make reference to the various idiomatic split rail fences seen along the Northern California coastline. Instead of using old growth hand split redwood, we used older growth mica schist hand split flagstone material from the Mojave desert. The four foot (plus)slabs are stood upright back to back along the entrance border of the Point Arena Lighthouse, looking out over the Pacific Ocean.
Their spacing, their verticality and irregular heights give the impression of wooden picket fencing from a distance, but as you approach closer, the fence structure begins to widen in appearance and looks more a thick jagged stone wall. The dynamic upright surging of the cliff’s seen here on the point (and along the Mendocino coast) are a geological feature that the stone fence/wall is also designed to mimic. Shale boulders from Annapolis are spaced every ten feet to brace the upright slabs. The gate boulders and middle pier boulder are bordered with pebble motif compliments of Kevin Carman talented artist mason musician and poet working out of Art City in Ventura Ca. The pebbles represent the crashing of the waves against the tall cliffs.
The wall/fence/installation uses no manufactured fasteners . Instead the stones are lodged together tightly using sandstone spacers notched into one side of every vertical mica schist slab. The spacers are wedged into the slabs along the same horizontal line so as to appear like a continuous fence rail when viewed directly from the side.
Twenty-four tons of material stretches more than 90 feet across the entrance to the lighthouse property. The backdrop of the lighthouse and vista of ocean shore provides an unparalleled setting for this totally new wall design. Tourists standing back to take photos now kneel down to include the ‘fence’ in the picture.
