Opus 40
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Basic Information

Opus 40 is a large environmental sculpture located in Saugerties, New York. It used to be a bluestone quarry which was reworked by its sculptor and owner Harvey Fite starting from its purchase in 1938 to his death in 1976. Originally he merely intended to create his sculptures here, but inspired by Mayan ruins in Honduras he decided to reshape the entire quarry and built ramps and walkways to the individual works.

He named his work "Opus 40" based on the number of years he expected it would take until it was finished. He died on the site, in his 37th year of working on it, when his mower got stuck in gear at the lip of a channel, flipping Fite over it and subsequently landing on him and crushing him.

Currently, the location is open as a museum. It is currently for sale, with an asking price of $3.5 million.

Sources

Game and Story Use

  • What would have happened if Fife had managed to finish his work before his death? Would it have been a nexus point of magical energies - a place which channels ancient Mayan sorceries?
    • What if someone discovers his original plans for the remaining portions of Opus 40, and attempts to finish it?
    • Was his death no accident but deliberate - and if it was, was it an attempt to prevent Opus 40 from getting finished and prevent disaster, or was it a consecration of the work with a blood sacrifice of its creator?
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