Rip Van Winkle Sculpture
The idea to carve a life-size sculpture of Rip Van Winkle from native stone at the summit of Hunter Mountain, was David Slutzky’s. The task of carving old Rip fell at the feet of sculptor Kevin VanHentenryck.
The work would proceed as part of the summer festival program at Hunter Mountain. Carving would take place only on festival days so the public could not only see the piece in progress, but also witness the actual carving process.
The first season (summer 1995) was simple material removal, roughing out the block from which the figure would be carved. This is accomplished using a large hammer-drill affectionately called "Big Bertha" to outline the block to be removed. Connecting the closely spaced holes to a depth of 2 inches creates a weak spot. Then, using wedges and shims tapped into the holes, the block is removed in one piece, thus saving perhaps weeks of carving. Variations on this process of splitting stone have been used for thousands of years.
Successive seasons have witnessed the ancient stone peeled away to reveal the reclining figure of Rip VanWinkle at the exact moment that realization of his predicament dawns on him.
The sculpture sits peacefully at the summit of Hunter Mountain, just a few dozen yards from the top of Upper K-27. Follow the cable railing to this beautiful spot, with amazing views into the valley far below.
