NewsFebruary 23, 2017
Artist works to create Freedom Rock at Cape Girardeau County Park North
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II has painted a ton of rocks, transforming massive stones into patriotic tableaus to honor America's veterans. Another of his "Freedom Rock" works is taking shape on a 32-ton limestone boulder in Cape Girardeau County Park North...
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II has painted a ton of rocks, transforming massive stones into patriotic tableaus to honor America's veterans.
Another of his "Freedom Rock" works is taking shape on a 32-ton limestone boulder in Cape Girardeau County Park North.
Sorenson, a native of Greenfield, Iowa, was inspired to paint his first rock in 1999 at the age of 19.
After viewing the World War II movie "Saving Private Ryan," Sorensen said he was inspired to turn a massive, graffiti-covered rock into a patriotic mural.
"I wanted to say thank you to the veterans," he recalled as he worked Wednesday on painting part of an American flag on the Cape Girardeau stone.
Year after year, he returned to paint a new patriotic scene on the rock.
In 2013, he began making other huge rocks his canvas with a goal of having a Freedom Rock in all 99 counties of Iowa.
He also has taken his creative talent to other states.
Sorensen said the Cape Girardeau creation will be his 59th. All but three are in Iowa. The Cape Girardeau stone will be his second creation in Missouri.
Dressed in paint-splattered blue jeans and a T-shirt sporting an image of an American flag, the 37-year-old Sorensen said his artistry is guided in part by the stone's shape.
He said his murals in many ways are a collage of images. Unlike a traditional canvas, a rock provides a three-dimensional framework for paintings, Sorensen said.
His creations have sparked public attention.
"I think part of it is people like to see a challenging mural," he said.
Sorensen said in his creations, "you are gong to see a lot of flags and a lot of eagles."
But he said no two murals are exactly alike. Even the type of stone varies.
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"Some are porous. Some are shiny flat," he said.
"I work top to bottom," he said as he applied a broad stripe of paint to the rock, protected by a temporary shelter.
Sorensen said he once worked 36 hours straight on a Freedom Rock mural so he could meet the time frame for the next commissioned mural.
Sorensen began painting the Cape Girardeau County Park rock Tuesday. He estimated it would take about two weeks to finish it.
Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy said he proposed the painting of a Freedom Rock after seeing Sorensen's initial rock mural during a trip to Iowa to visit relatives.
The Buzzi Unicem quarry in Cape Girardeau donated the massive stone. Tracy said he and others involved in the project "looked at every rock in the quarry."
Cape Girardeau's Freedom Rock is part of a larger Veterans Plaza under construction at Cape Girardeau County Park North.
The rock, set on a foundation, stands in front of a concrete wall that will have a granite finish. The wall will carry the names of about 600 veterans from Cape Girardeau County who have died and who are honored with the posting of American flags in the park.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau is leading the project.
VFW member David Cantrell said the entire project will cost about $100,000. The Freedom Rock mural will cost about $11,000, he said.
Last year, the veterans group held a golf tournament that raised about $20,000 toward the project.
Plans call for selling 100 granite pavers at $1,000 each to help fund construction and maintenance of the Veterans Plaza, Cantrell said.
A half-dozen benches also are planned for the site. The benches will provide more naming and fundraising opportunities, Cantrell said.
"I am excited," Cantrell said as he eyed the developing veterans memorial near the county park flagpole with its large American flag.
Plans call for unveiling the Freedom Rock at this year's Memorial Day celebration, he said.
mbliss@semissourian.com
(573) 388-3641
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