Here is Marisol with Henry, an unauthenticated moai from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It stands in the museum of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, the bone orchard that was the inspiration for the cemetery in The Loved One.

The story of the moai figurine is suspect. Forest Lawn's former director, Dr. Hubert Eaton, said that Henry had been reposing in a Rapa Nui fishing boat as ballast and that he bought it from the fishermen in the early part of the 20th century. It has been standing at the Museum since 1956.

Forest Lawn has no plans to authenticate or carbon date the figurine, probably because it is a more compelling piece of art if visitors believe it to be between 500 and 700 years old like the other Easter Island statues.

Forest Lawn Cemetery is one of our family's favorite places; rarely do we encounter a metaphor so tangible as associating Glendale with death.



Previously: Blonde at the bone orchard
See also: Forest Lawn

Labels: art, forest lawn, glendale, museum