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SCULPTURE TO HONOR SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SLAIN IN DORNER SHOOT-OUT
San Bernardino Sun (California)
August 8, 2013 Thursday
By Michel Nolan, Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- A larger-than-life clay likeness of slain sheriff's
Detective Jeremiah MacKay stood in an artist's studio here on
Wednesday, awaiting a trip to a San Diego foundry to be cast in bronze.
The memorial sculpture is the creation of Khachik Khachatouryan,
a sculptor whose works are on view in the Huntington Library in San
Marino and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, among other
well-known venues.
The 8.5-foot bronze statue of MacKay pays tribute to the 1995 Rim of
the World High School graduate and Redlands resident who was killed
Feb. 12 in a gunfight near Barton Flats with rogue ex-Los Angeles
police Officer Christopher Dorner.
The sculpture will stand on a 4-foot granite pedestal in a grassy
area of Lake Arrowhead Village, near a plaque dedicated to MacKay's
grandmother, Audrey MacKay, a dedicated community member.
The area will be known as MacKay Corner.
Khachatouryan said he has worked on the sculpture more than 16 hours
a day for two months.
"I give my time," he said. "He gave his life."
The sculpture of the 35-year-old MacKay will capture him wearing a
sheriff deputy's uniform, a badge and a Scottish beret, which he wore
when he played the bagpipes with the Inland Empire Emerald Society.
His right hand is placed on his heart, representing his sacrifice,
and the other outstretched hand represents giving to the community.
The dove that will rest on the granite base stands for peace and
life, according to the artist, who said, "It is important for me to
capture his soul, his essence. I do not want to make him an empty,
hollow sculpture. I want his big heart and personality to show."
The sculpture is 30 percent larger than real life.
Although there is no charge for the artist's commission, materials
and forging of the bronze are expected to cost about $25,000, an
amount that has been donated by the philanthropic Berger Foundation.
A Lake Arrowhead resident, Khachatouryan came to the United States
from Armenia in 1989.
His mother, Elizabeth, who was visiting the studio, said that ever
since Khachik was a little boy, people have raved about his talent.
"Khachik has been sculpting nearly 40 years and drawing since he was
2 years," she said.
Sheriff's Capt. Rick Ells said MacKay worked for him out of the San
Bernardino office and as a detective out of the Lake Arrowhead office.
"About three months ago, I was at a fundraiser for the MacKay family
and a gentleman approached me and said he knew of a local sculptor
who wanted to do a sculpture of Jeremiah, and I said that would be
wonderful. I think it's fantastic how it turned out and how quickly
it was accomplished. He worked long days to get it done," Ells said.
Khachatouryan has an exhibit titled "Stainless Steel Succulents,"
consisting of 10-foot-high pieces, at the Huntington Library.
"With the volume of visitors the Huntington has, it is an honor,"
Khachatouryan said.
More information about Khachatouryan is atkhachatouryan.com .
San Bernardino Sun (California)
August 8, 2013 Thursday
By Michel Nolan, Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- A larger-than-life clay likeness of slain sheriff's
Detective Jeremiah MacKay stood in an artist's studio here on
Wednesday, awaiting a trip to a San Diego foundry to be cast in bronze.
The memorial sculpture is the creation of Khachik Khachatouryan,
a sculptor whose works are on view in the Huntington Library in San
Marino and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, among other
well-known venues.
The 8.5-foot bronze statue of MacKay pays tribute to the 1995 Rim of
the World High School graduate and Redlands resident who was killed
Feb. 12 in a gunfight near Barton Flats with rogue ex-Los Angeles
police Officer Christopher Dorner.
The sculpture will stand on a 4-foot granite pedestal in a grassy
area of Lake Arrowhead Village, near a plaque dedicated to MacKay's
grandmother, Audrey MacKay, a dedicated community member.
The area will be known as MacKay Corner.
Khachatouryan said he has worked on the sculpture more than 16 hours
a day for two months.
"I give my time," he said. "He gave his life."
The sculpture of the 35-year-old MacKay will capture him wearing a
sheriff deputy's uniform, a badge and a Scottish beret, which he wore
when he played the bagpipes with the Inland Empire Emerald Society.
His right hand is placed on his heart, representing his sacrifice,
and the other outstretched hand represents giving to the community.
The dove that will rest on the granite base stands for peace and
life, according to the artist, who said, "It is important for me to
capture his soul, his essence. I do not want to make him an empty,
hollow sculpture. I want his big heart and personality to show."
The sculpture is 30 percent larger than real life.
Although there is no charge for the artist's commission, materials
and forging of the bronze are expected to cost about $25,000, an
amount that has been donated by the philanthropic Berger Foundation.
A Lake Arrowhead resident, Khachatouryan came to the United States
from Armenia in 1989.
His mother, Elizabeth, who was visiting the studio, said that ever
since Khachik was a little boy, people have raved about his talent.
"Khachik has been sculpting nearly 40 years and drawing since he was
2 years," she said.
Sheriff's Capt. Rick Ells said MacKay worked for him out of the San
Bernardino office and as a detective out of the Lake Arrowhead office.
"About three months ago, I was at a fundraiser for the MacKay family
and a gentleman approached me and said he knew of a local sculptor
who wanted to do a sculpture of Jeremiah, and I said that would be
wonderful. I think it's fantastic how it turned out and how quickly
it was accomplished. He worked long days to get it done," Ells said.
Khachatouryan has an exhibit titled "Stainless Steel Succulents,"
consisting of 10-foot-high pieces, at the Huntington Library.
"With the volume of visitors the Huntington has, it is an honor,"
Khachatouryan said.
More information about Khachatouryan is atkhachatouryan.com .