Seattle Press on Line - The Man Behind the Monolith

The Man Behind the Monolith

By Sara DeBell

Caleb Schaber in Chupacabra Policia's art car.

Jan 24, 2001 -- Artist Caleb Schaber got a "thank you" e-mail from Mayor Schell, for ... breaking the law? Schaber and friends were caught pranking without a permit, but even Hizzoner recognized that their unauthorized action had awakened Seattle's mischievous soul from its winter slumber.

It began on January 1, 2001, when a gigantic metal monolith materialized atop a hill in Magnuson Park. No one knew how this monolith came to be, but we had seen its like before. In Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, mysterious monoliths were likely planted by aliens or other advanced beings, and seemed to signal an evolutionary leap toward enlightenment.

From Seattle with Love

We now know the monolith is the work of a Ballard-based collective of artists called Some People, notably Schaber and Belltown metal artist Louie Raffloer (with financial aid from the Blue Moon tavern). Schaber explains that the group was shocked and delighted to see their monolith become the first big happening of the New Millennium. He comments, "We're just pleased that we were able to send a positive message out to the world from Seattle."

That's right: the world. Their creation appeared on CNN and England's BBC. From there it was beamed to the far corners of the planet. A friend saw the monolith on TV in Africa, and it's reported that sci-fi king Arthur C. Clarke, the renowned author of the 2001 story and screenplay, heard the news at his home in Sri Lanka.

Schaber hopes to travel to Sri Lanka in April to meet Clarke--and with his colorful history, it's entirely possible he'll go. Schaber, 27, came to Seattle from Michigan in 1993 and promptly jumped off the Aurora Bridge.

Head First Over the Aurora Bridge

Reckless youth and tequila helped, but Schaber had been accustomed to thrill-jumping off high bridges back home. He hadn't ever met anything like the Aurora, though. He doesn't remember the whole thing, but he tucked himself into a cannonball--which probably saved his life. He found the water excruciatingly cold, but somehow managed to get himself over to a houseboat. He spent 9 days in the hospital with a broken back.

Schaber followed his death-defying feat with a stint as a journalist. He wrote for the UW Daily and contributed articles to Today's Careers--including interviews with professional police divers who fish less fortunate bridge-jumpers out of Lake Union.

For the last 4 years Schaber has been involved with The Ballard Playhouse, a sort of home base for artists, writers and performers. With the riot-squad-inspired Chupacabra Policia, a beneficent Mad Max-style law enforcement contingent, Schaber attended Burning Man 2000...where the group, naturally, burned a monolith. Chupacabra's chaotic-looking "Art Car" can still be seen parked nearby the playhouse.

The Playhouse has hosted a number of events, with varying degrees of success. They tried to hold "rave" dance parties, but found the teenagers impossible to control. An art showing is on their current calendar, as is an elaborate Mardi Gras festival--to be held off-site in February, according to organizer Honky the Clown.

Art Opening

The public is invited to an exhibit featuring sculpture, acrylics, and mixed media by Some People members Caleb Schaber, Jason Henrickson, and Marc Leuschner. The opening reception will be held Saturday, January 27, 6 - 9 p.m., at the Ballard Playhouse, 608 NW 65th St. For more information see www.ballardplayhouse.org, or call (206) 297-1408.

Monolith Attacked by Artists?

The WTO, with its street theater and hard-core riot squad, lit a fire under many area artists. But, sensitive to previous guerrilla art fiascoes such as Jason Sprinkle's "bomb" car, Some People has taken care not to produce "anything that looks like a terrorist attack."

Last New Year's they took on Seattle's canceled Y2K celebration with a burning "Bridge to the 21st Century" sculpture/event at Pike Place. This year's monolith, notes Schaber, has "steeped in the world culture for 32 years," so is not likely to be seen as a threat.

However, the high-profile Magnuson Park monolith appears to be controversial in some circles. On January 3 the monolith was stolen and replaced by a bomb sculpture, and on January 17 the thieves returned to vandalize the monolith, marking it up with guerrilla art manifestos. A "bad element" of the Fremont-area art scene is rumored to be responsible, but so far no one has stepped forward.

Working with the Parks Department, Some People has securely reinstalled the monolith in Magnuson Park, where it's expected to remain on view--thanks to an official city permit--until March 31.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!


David Dufour	Jan 31, 2001	Seattle, WA	writer
OK, so where's the picture, Terry?


Keri	Apr 30, 2001	Charlotte, NC	GIS Technician
It is amazing all that Caleb has accomplished in the last little while. We always knew he would do something big. Give'm hell my friend! I hope you win that mayoral race.


I built the monolith	Dec 14, 2002	Seattle	monolith builder
Caleb had nothing to do with the monolith. FYI


ZolTan	Sep 08, 2003	Mars	Teraforming
Foolish Humans! The monolith is my creation!