On Saturday, July 6, 2013 members of Janet Davidson Thayer’s family were on hand at the dedication of a memorial crafted by Lutsen sculptor Tom Christiansen in her memory. (L-R, standing) Sculptor Tom Christiansen; Ellie Hyatt and Marcia Hyatt, Janet Thayer’s daughters. Seated on the Grandma bench are Janet’s great-grandchildren Annaliese Raasch and Sebastian Willett.
At the beginning of July a beautiful and wonderfully functional piece of art was unveiled at the Johnson Heritage Post gallery in downtown Grand Marais. Resting now in a place of honor is the sturdy Grandma Bench created by Lutsen sculptor Tom Christiansen in memory of his mother-in-law Janet Davison Thayer, who died at her Somerset, Wisconsin home on July 21, 2012.
The bench is an example of the meaningful work that Christiansen creates at Last Chance Fabricating in Lutsen. The Grandma Bench is one of his Studio Formå line which he explains is “where life takes shape in the form of meaningful art.” The name Forma is derived from the Norwegian word for “purpose.”
Chr istiansen’s work fills the purpose of honoring a loved one, either as a gift while living or as a remembrance once they are gone. He has created innumerable personal pieces—urns, memorial bells, unique sculptures and benches similar to the Grandma Bench now in place at Johnson Heritage Post.
Anyone interested in having their own work of art designed by Studio Formå may work directly with Christiansen or with his wife, Marcia Hyatt, who is a life coach. She can help determine the emotion and vision that you want to capture. More information can be found at www.thestudioforma.com.
Or stop by the Johnson Heritage Post and sit awhile on the Grandma Bench to see—and feel—the meaningful art that Christiansen and Hyatt have created.
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