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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 28 august 2017

Statue of rights leader rises as other icons fall in South

By KATHLEEN FOODY a three-year struggle over strong characteristic like in his Southern hometown The state and the King es-
Associated Press multiple hurdles. Officials some historical figures.” at a time when monu- tate ultimately came to an
ATLANTA (AP) — The had to negotiate with Dawe knew other tributes ments honoring Civil War agreement for the statue,
sculpted clay was dry and King’s family for the right to King had been criticized Confederates are coming at no cost.
the bronze would soon be to use his image. Then an and he set one goal: Make down in many other plac- Smyre said the estate nev-
cast, but artist Martin Dawe artist was selected for the the 8-foot (2.44-meter) es across the South. er asked for a financial
still found himself waking project, only to be killed statue look like the man. Less than two miles from commitment to use King’s
with a start before dawn, in a motorcycle accident. People have their own im- King’s birthplace, Geor- image and he thinks King’s
gia’s state Capitol has held children deserved to be in-
only one representation of volved.
the civil rights icon and No- “I can understand them
bel laureate since 1974 — a wanting to make sure
painting. Black lawmakers the things that people do
lobbied without success for that represent their father
years to install a statue on would be done in good or-
the grounds commemorat- der,” Smyre said this month.
ing him. Eric Tidwell, the estate
Then, in late 2013, Republi- representative, did not re-
can Gov. Nathan Deal or- spond to several messages
dered the statue of white requesting comment from
supremacist Tom Watson King’s estate on the proj-
— a Georgia political lead- ect.
er in the late 1800s and Meanwhile, Smyre and Re-
early 1900s — removed publican Rep. Joe Wilkin-
from the Capitol lawn. son began seeking donors
On the 2014 national holi- to cover the estimated
day bearing King’s name, $100,000 expense. By early
Deal visited the historic July of 2015, King’s estate
Ebenezer Baptist Church signed off on a design pro-
where King preached and posal from artist Andy Da-
promised to “find an ap- vis, whose statue of Ray
propriate way” to honor Charles for a south Geor-
In this Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 photo, artist Martin Dawe is photographed next to a model of a him at the Capitol. gia city convinced state
statue he sculpted paying tribute to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., at his studio in Atlanta. King’s family is fiercely pro- officials that he was the
More than three years after Georgia lawmakers endorsed the project, a statue paying tribute to tective of his name, image, right pick.
King will be installed on the state Capitol grounds Monday, Aug. 28. words and more. Within But within days of getting
(AP Photo/David Goldman) weeks, an attorney repre- the OK to start his work,
worried that he didn’t get After a lengthy screening, age of King, Dawe said, senting the estate warned Davis was fatally injured
the details of the famous Dawe was chosen to re- from a favorite photo per- the governor’s chief of staff when an alleged drunk
man’s face exactly right. place him. haps or a personal glimpse that permission for such a driver collided with his mo-
On Monday, Dawe will find Then came the artistic caught in childhood. He statue would be required. torcycle. Officials had to
out if he succeeded when challenge. said he’s prepared for Lawmakers approved a start over.It took almost a
officials unveil his statue of “It’s the most difficult por- mixed reactions because resolution proposing the year to narrow down the
civil rights leader Martin Lu- trait I’ve ever done in my of that history. But he’s still statue and Deal appoint- hundreds of artist portfolios
ther King Jr. on the Georgia whole career,” Dawe said hoping most will conclude: ed Rep. Calvin Smyre, a that poured in after Davis’
state Capitol’s grounds for this month at his Atlanta “That looks like him.” black Democrat from Co- death, interview four final-
the 54th anniversary of the studio. “He has very elu- A reflection of epochal lumbus and longest-serv- ists and select a new artist.
March on Washington. sive features. He has a very changes, the civil rights ing member of the House, That delay ballooned the
Getting to this point was distinct profile but no over leader’s statue is going up as a liaison to the family. cost to $300,000.