Today (01.07.21) the landscaping crew and the carpenters were hard at work on the northeast side of the Galleria. Some of the landscapers were working in the Main Entrance island planting ground cover. Others were working on the irrigation system. On the east side near where the Northeast parking lot will be located, there was a group strategizing. From what I could tell, the group included the landscaping supervisor and the assistant job superintendent overseeing the landscaping project. Then there was a crew putting in forms for the sidewalks that would lead to Main Entrance and around the ‘Come Unto Me’ statues. As I turned toward the east side of the Galleria, I noticed activity around the statues. The crew, I learned, was about to seat the ‘Jesus’ statue. The statue would be placed temporarily in the drill holes and if the Sculptor, Victor Issa, approved the positioning, via a facetime call, the statue would be permanently mounted with epoxy.
PlantingStrategizingForming DrillingThe dog and puppy, two of the statues in the 10-piece ‘Come Unto Me’ grouping, appear to look on with interest as the crew finishes drilling the holes in the concrete where the statue of Jesus will be anchored.With the holes drilled, one of the crew bends down to give the larger dog a pat on the head. Three of the holes in which the anchor posts will be inserted can be seen at center right.A wooden cradle supports the head of Jesus while the laborers drill the holes in the concrete. With the holes drilled in the concrete, the crew discuss the how to tip the statue to minimize movement as the posts are carefully lowered into the anchor holes. The tip begins.As the statue reaches the tipping point zenith, the crew carefully stabilizes the statue. Notice the hands of the crew as they lower the statue to the holes.The near end of the bench on which Jesus sits is within a fraction of an inch of resting on the concrete while the far end is carefully lowered into the holes. I like this image. As Victor rushes to the opposite side to check the level, he appears to look down at the dog who seems to look up at him. With the posts in the anchor holes, a laborer stands on the bench to check the stability. As I changed position, the crew quickly set the little girl to the left of the bench.The ‘Come Unto Me’ statues that had been set by the end of the day, January 7, 2021. On Friday, January 8, 2021, another figure had been added to the grouping. The position of the ‘Come Unto Me’ statues can be viewed from many of the northeast windows. This image was taken from the second floor.
After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨
