ASPEN, Colo.—An exhibition honoring renowned author Hunter S. Thompson is calling attention to a little-known moratorium on memorial benches in Aspen.
About a dozen memorial benches inscribed with quotes by Thompson are being placed around the resort town as part of the Aspen Art Museum’s exhibition titled “Restless Empathy,” which opens June 24. The benches include quotes by Thompson such as, “Call on God, but row away from the rocks,” and “Nightmare in La-La-Land.”
City park officials say they have run out of room for new benches. About 80 memorial benches have been installed since the program began in the 1970s. The last memorial bench was installed in 2006 and a waiting list of people willing to pay $3,500 for a bench has grown to about 90.
———
Information from: Aspen Daily News,
