Ever since doing this business, clients and customers have requested artwork to be made into unique things, mostly for personal decor. Permanent - for life - uses have been made in such applications as tattoos and trophies. This time, a more permanent use was made to help highlight the birth of modern-day lacrosse in a stone sculpture.
The email came early in the new year of January 2024. It got my attention because it was on my work schedule and it was with Lacrosse Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation. A stone bench to help commemorate the birth of modern lacrosse in the Kingston, Ontario was to be made. The sides of the leg, or stone slabs, were to have my requested artwork.
The art direction was to have simple, line drawings done of lacrosse sticks in the past, instead of highly detailed drawings, which is my 'bread and butter' style. Needless to say, it was hard to do something so simple. I think I 'looked' at the finished piece in a perplexed manner due to the simplicity. Aside from also having to keep it 'under the radar', the work required it to be done in a matter of days.
But aside from doing the artwork, working with Mr. Jim Calder who is a director for the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation, was always a great experience in this project. Not only was he credited for the 'hockey assist' for the winning goal in the 1978 World Games of Lacrosse for Team Canada in the championship game over the United States, I had also the great privilege in illustrating one of his lacrosse books.
I don't know if I'll ever get to Kingston, Ontario anytime soon, but seeing it 'in stone' is something I'll be proud to show. As I said in the beginning, customers have owned the art indefinitely as in tattoos. In this case, the art will last longer than the average human being. It's great to be a part, of permanent lacrosse history.
All images ©TheArtofLax™ - by Vincent Ricasio
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