New Sculpture “Eternal” Unveiled in Sedona
James Muir’s sculpture “Eternal” is the newest addition to Sedona’s artistic landscape, introduced at the Chapel Road Roundabout. The unveiling ceremony, which took place on June 13th, featured brief blessings by Rabbi Alicia Magal and Father Ignatius Mazanovs, alongside remarks from Mayor Scott Jabou and Arts & Culture Coordinator Nancy Rattan. Around 50 people attended the event.
“I feel so honored to present this beautiful work here as a legacy to James,” Jabou remarked. “It will always remind us of James Muir whenever we enter this side of the community.”
The sculpture is designed to resemble the silhouette of an oil lamp with an eternal flame, directed towards the chapel of the Holy Cross, and is encircled by a 15-foot Mobius Ring. The base of the lamp is crafted from a gabion basket of welded iron, filled with red rocks, echoing the traditional cairn markers used on trails.
“If you start from any point on its surface, you won’t leave it; it spins twice and brings you right back. It only has one side,” Muir explained. “I connect this with perception and love because God has just one side.”
Muir sees his creation as a “sculpture sign” that not only promotes Sedona but also directs visitors to the chapel. It also complements his larger 33-foot bronze sculpture, “Christ of the Holy Cross.”
“Symbolically, the piece reflects the journey of God,” Muir stated about “Eternal.” “Sedona is filled with hiking paths, and this recognizes that you can see the red rocks and engage in a meaningful relationship with nature while hiking.”
This piece marked Muir’s first public artwork without intricate detail, a shift he made due to budget limitations and the challenge of creating a design that wouldn’t distract drivers.
“It was liberating for me, both personally and artistically,” he shared. “For 40 years, I’ve focused on emotionally rich sculptures—human figures, animals, and so forth. This allowed me to distill my work to its core essence.”
Muir considers his art to carry deeper messages beyond mere symbolism and visual representation, highlighting its universal appeal.
“That’s why I utilize symbolism; it transcends spoken language. There’s no need for my thoughts to get in the way,” he continued. “[‘Eternal’] has a symbolic meaning I can explain, but others can interpret it in their unique way without needing language. It brings to mind what dancer Isadora Duncan once said—if she had to explain her dance, then why dance at all?”
The creation of the Mobius ring required significant collaboration, leading Muir to partner with James Tyler, a metal expert in Phoenix.
“This was probably the first of its kind, and it was quite a challenge—some panels bend in different directions,” Tyler noted. “The most rewarding aspect was witnessing Muir’s vision for the flames he wanted to incorporate.”
Muir had previously expressed gratitude for the inspiration that came to him upon his arrival in Sedona on April 1, 1978.
“I spotted a cross shining on the airport hill, which has since been removed,” he recalled. “I believe strongly in signs and symbols; they communicate in ways we’re not accustomed to. When I got delayed reaching Flagstaff, I decided to stay the night, and by morning, I knew Sedona was where I wanted to be.”
The final artwork for the roundabout will be Mark Feldkeller’s “Look in Up,” with plans for its installation by the end of July or early August, following a 30-day preparation period for the concrete foundations.
