When is a Monster Not a Monster?
"Lincoln City, Oregon, wanted a sculpture for its park on Devil’s Lake, something fun for a place popular with children. Heidi Erickson won the commission and began to work — and work and work. By the time she was finished in August 2012 her two-ton sculpture stood 13 feet tall and 18 feet long — four or five times bigger than Lincoln City had envisioned, according to Sandy Pfaff, director of the town’s Convention and Visitor Bureau. And it was a dragon.
The unexpectedly big dragon at Devil’s Lake gave Lincoln City an unexpected problem. Devil’s Lake had been given its name for a reason. According to legend, the lake was (and perhaps still is) the home of a terrifying monster, known for dragging native fishermen to their doom.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, who carry some clout in Lincoln City, do not like the legend, according to Sandy. They feel that the tale could be misinterpreted as history, a metaphor for local savages performing human sacrifice, which the Confederated Tribes did not do.
And then Heidi Erickson unveiled her in-your-face dragon at Devil’s Lake."
Rest of the story and pics at:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/not-a-monster/
Believe it or not, reasonable people worked things out to everyone's satisfaction.
