DAVID DINGER MEMORIAL SCULPTURE
Utah Olympic Park, Park City, Utah

David Dinger, otherwise known as “The Icemiester”, passed away in August 2010. His responsibility had been to oversee, prepare and take care of the ice on the bobsled and luge track in the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. It was his passion and no one did it better. His family was also his passion, so when cancer took his life, they searched for a way and a place where they could go to remember him and also the many who had worked with him and made friends with him could remember him.

Kelly, David’s former wife, had seen a sculpture I had created at the Phillips Gallery in Salt Lake City. The curved lines in the piece reminded her of a track. She met with Meri DeCaria, director at Phillips, and discussed her desire to have a memorial made for David. Meri got in touch with me and I was honored to have the opportunity. I visited the site at the Utah Olympic Park many times with Kelly and Meri. I was also able to meet some of the crew that worked on the track. They even let me work with them one afternoon so I could experience a little of what David had done.

Kelly later saw another piece on my website that she and her boys liked. It reminded the boys of something their dad had always said to them when he was leaving, “Buddies for life!. It was determined that the design could be enlarged to the size she wanted and I began working. I also had the opportunity to meet the boys in their home. They are both very musically talented and it was a treat to have them share that with me.

The sculpture is installed at the top of the bobsled and luge track. A memorial was held November 12, 2011. I had the opportunity to meet more of David’s friends, his family, and Kelly’s family. It was a privilege for me to be chosen to create this piece in honor of a man who was so loved and respected.

The base of the piece is steel with a rust patina and is engraved with David’s name, his birth and death year, “Let’s see what’s around the next curve, over the next horizon?” and “buddies for
life”. The three fins are stainless steel and attached to a
stainless steel base. The sphere is steel with a rust patina.

The overall sculpture is approximately 9’ x 4’ x 2’.