Vicky Cornell and the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) celebrated Seattle’s son, music icon and late singer/songwriter Chris Cornell, with the public unveiling of a commemorative statue. The life-size statue, commissioned and donated to the museum by Vicky Cornell, will stand outside MoPOP’s south entrance facing Fifth Avenue North. The statue sculpted by artist Nick Marras shows the legend rocking out with a guitar, typically of his visage in his prime. Watch the unveiling video from the event and images from Wolverine Kills.
Since announcing plans for the statue, MoPOP and the Cornell family received an overwhelming response from the community wanting to honor Chris’s life. The decision was made to move the statue unveiling from August 29 to October 7 to accommodate crowds.
The unveiling was followed by a hour-long screening of a 2013 Soundgarden concert at The Wiltern, captured by the Artist Den, inside MoPOP’s Sky Church.
“I wanted to celebrate and honor him, memorialize his contribution to music history and the arts, philanthropy, in his hometown where his initial impact stems from,” Vicky told The Seattle Times. “It’s a really unique city that — it’s defined him — but also I feel like it propelled him to create this movement that would influence popular music forever.”
“As an artist, my husband was not only one of the greatest voices in rock history but also one of the greatest and most prolific poets of his time- his contribution to music birthed a movement that would leave an indelible mark on popular music forever. It only makes sense that I donate this statue to MoPop with their dedication to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture,” said Vicky Cornell. “Like my husband and his music, MoPop reaches multigenerational audiences, and this is the perfect place where people near and far can come together to not only support the museum and its programs, but also celebrate the legacy that my husband left behind, not only in Seattle but around the world.”
“MoPOP is honored to receive this gift from Vicky Cornell and pay tribute to one of the most powerful and important voices in popular music,” said Jasen Emmons, artistic director, MoPOP. “MoPOP serves to celebrate the Seattle music scene and the luminaries who have emerged from the Northwest and Chris was a key figure who has made a lasting impact on generations worldwide.”