Sculptor Stefanie Rocknak Reveals the Inspiration Behind New Bedford’s Melville Monument

The unveiling of the bronze statue of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville will take place, Friday, August 14 at 11 a.m. on the front lawn of the Seamen's Bethel in New Bedford.  Sculptor Stefanie Rocknak said she'll be there and can't wait to see the finished product in that setting.

I spoke with Rocknak over the phone this week about her career, and the process of creating the Melville statue.

"I'm thrilled and honored," she said. "Melville is truly one of my literary heroes, so this has been really exciting for me."

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From Edgar Allan Poe to Moby-Dick: The Sculptor's Journey

Rocknak studied painting at Colby College, but describes herself as a self-taught sculptor. She became enamored with clay and wood sculptor after visiting Rome during her junior year in college. She was later commissioned to create a statue of Edgar Allan Poe, which later was cast in bronze and now stands in Boston.

Inspired by Chapter 9 of Moby-Dick

Rocknak said Father Mapple's sermon in Chapter 9 of Moby-Dick provided her with much of the inspiration of her design, which shows Melville standing near the ribs of a whale.

"I had a vision of giant whale bones, so I went home and sketched it out, and looked back through Moby-Dick to see if it made sense," she said. "Father Mapple mentioned whale bones twice during the sermon, so I knew it would work."

Courtesy City of New Bedford

Engineering the Whale Ribs and Facing the Ultimate Challenge

Rocknak said making the ribs was probably the most challenging part of the sculpture.

"It was challenging to get them the right length, and curved correctly and lined up in the right places, so the sculpture can support the weight of the ribs," she said. "That all had to be planned out, and it was harder than it looks."

"I think the ribs might be a little bit shocking to some," Rocknak said. "It's a little unusual, so hopefully that will draw people in. The piece has a kind of swirling action to it, going round and round like Melville is caught in a storm."

Rocknak believes the Melville statue is her most ambitious project to date. "It's been very exciting, and I can't wait for the unveiling," she said.

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