Scott Schuldt

The Grave of Vitus Bering, wood, rocks, string, 2012

This work is in a secluded cedar grove at Smoke Farm in western Washington...until it fall down.

The Dane, Vitus Bering was in the Russian Navy and was the leader of the first european expedition to the Alaska coast. He operated more like a pillager than like a scientist. His expedition ended after losing both of his ship's boats to Aleuts somewhere in the Aleutian Islands. He died during the winter later that year.

Here, a hand-made Aleutian kayak frame is suspended over a Viking grave mound. Small white rocks fall from the kayak cockpit like rain, or tears. Within a few weeks, moles inhabited the secure fortress of the cobble mound and spiders claimed the kayak.