SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

Near the entrance to Blue
Heron Vineyards and Winery
(see article, this issue),
a sign points down a rugged,
winding road toward “the Celtic
Cross.” The winery visitor is welcome
to drive or walk down to view this
massive sculpture that evokes some
of the mystery of medieval Ireland
and Scotland.
Carved within a 20’ x 22’ x 4’
sandstone boulder natural to the hillside,
this artwork is believed to be
the largest “in situ” (of its own stone)
Celtic cross in the world.
The cross was commissioned by
Gary and Lynn Dauby, the winery’s
owners, and carved by Cannelton
sculptor Greg Harris, whose story is
as intriguing as is the presence of this
monolith in the hills of southern Indiana.
Harris is completely self-taught.
He began carving when he was 9
or 10, making dogwood flowers on
rocks using a screwdriver.
“A screwdriver was the only tool
I had, and I couldn’t afford more,”
Harris explained. “I often threw
the finished pieces in the creek bed,
where locals found them and started
collecting them, believing they were
Native American artifacts.”
Harris has no theory to explain
his innate talent, but in doing genealogical
research, he recently discovered
that his great-grandfather had
been a Scottish stonecutter.
It took Harris 23 months to complete
the Celtic cross – working alone,
six days a week, through all types of
weather. “Three tons of stone came
out of that boulder,” Harris said. “I
went through 70 power chisels.”
Cannelton is known for its sandstone,
but the boulder at the winery
is quartz sandstone, which is especially
hard, and can be polished like
granite. “I had to set up my own tool
sharpening station at the foot of the
cross because I needed to sharpen 25
to 30 chisels a day,” Harris said.
Setting a chisel against a blank
face of stone can be a daunting experience,
which is why Harris believes
that practice and preparation are essential.
“I spent a lot of time making
horse troughs. I always work from
models or drawings, or sometimes
both,” Harris said to describe his
practice. He alsoread stacks of books
on Celtic crosses from various disciplines.
The design on one side of the
cross, carefully researched, “is a Celtic
symbol of the struggle of life,” Harris
said.
Artist Spotlight
Made to Last
Local artist carves largest in-situ Celtic cross in the world
Celtic Cross at Blue Heron WInery
Story by Judy Cato
Photos by Lorraine Hughes
Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2021 • 17