(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Miscellaneous/Guerrilla-Art/i-CRwpBtf/0/57cd467a/L/Lift%20Ev'ry%20Voice%20sculpture-L.jpg)
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On February 12, 1900, James Weldon Johnson's song 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' was sung for the first time by a choir of Jacksonville children for a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Here's the story of the song known as America's black national anthem.
Read more: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/the-history-of-lift-evry-voice-and-sing/
I think a quality recreation of the harp sculpture is an absolute must for Lift Ev'ry Voice park. Any idea what that would cost in bronze?
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on February 12, 2020, 12:00:20 PM
I think a quality recreation of the harp sculpture is an absolute must for Lift Ev'ry Voice park. Any idea what that would cost in bronze?
It's long been my dream to have a proper monument to JWJ. As to cost, when we added the Martin Luther King statue at UNF in 2012, it was $32,000, and it's smaller than the Harp would be. My very unofficial guesstimation is that it could be $100,000 to do it right. Expensive but definitely doable with private donors. I'd prefer a modern sculptor's take based on Savage's work over a straight recreation, myself.
You guys should reach out to the Durkeeville Historical Society. I believe they are running the show regarding the design of that space and what will or won't be included in it.
Thanks, Lake. What about the Art in Public Places committee and Vestcor as well? I don't have $100,000 to donate but I surely would donate toward this and I'd hope others would too. I wonder if what Vestcor has committed and what Art in Public Places has on hand also could be allocated in part toward the project.
Vestcor gave money but I don't think they're really involved in the planning of the space. Walter Hood is coming to town in April to address it. Others are involved but I got the sense that DHS is driving things from a "what the community wants" perspective.
Thanks for the insight, Lake. I'll make contact with DHS.
Took me a minute of wondering why the Department of Homeland Security would be involved with memorializing James Weldon Johnson. Then, I remembered the Durkeeville Historic Society.
Honestly, I'd like a JWJ monument in a more visible space, but I'll take what we can get. I'd certainly be interested to hear what the Durkeeville folks are working on.
Quote from: Tacachale on February 12, 2020, 04:44:31 PM
Honestly, I'd like a JWJ monument in a more visible space, but I'll take what we can get. I'd certainly be interested to hear what the Durkeeville folks are working on.
Do you think the new courthouse lawn project would make more sense for this? To whatever extent there's a front for advocacy on this issue, I'd like it to be a united one!
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on February 12, 2020, 05:18:47 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on February 12, 2020, 04:44:31 PM
Honestly, I'd like a JWJ monument in a more visible space, but I'll take what we can get. I'd certainly be interested to hear what the Durkeeville folks are working on.
Do you think the new courthouse lawn project would make more sense for this? To whatever extent there's a front for advocacy on this issue, I'd like it to be a united one!
Sure, there are a lot of options. I'd prefer something very central like Hemming, the pocket park across from Florida Theater (which has a pretty cool sculpture in it now), or perhaps Lenny's Lawn.
Quote from: Tacachale on February 12, 2020, 06:44:10 PM
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on February 12, 2020, 05:18:47 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on February 12, 2020, 04:44:31 PM
Honestly, I'd like a JWJ monument in a more visible space, but I'll take what we can get. I'd certainly be interested to hear what the Durkeeville folks are working on.
Do you think the new courthouse lawn project would make more sense for this? To whatever extent there's a front for advocacy on this issue, I'd like it to be a united one!
Sure, there are a lot of options. I'd prefer something very central like Hemming, the pocket park across from Florida Theater (which has a pretty cool sculpture in it now), or perhaps Lenny's Lawn.
The Courthouse would be a good location with JWJ being an attorney, working for civil rights, education and Stanton being nearby in LaVilla there.
Replace the Confederate on a pole in Hemming with a JWJ/Lift Ev'ry Voice statue in Hemming?
(Really piss off the folks still fighting that war in the 1860s.