VIDEO: MLK Memorial Presentation
On Dr. Martin Luther King Day, the city presents a new memorial exhibit.
Despite chilly temperatures Monday morning, more than 150 people gathered at the island on the corner of Mason and South Main streets to dedicate a new exhibit in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. The event marked the city's 10th annual celebration of the holiday honoring the civil rights leader.
The colorful live-sized silhouettes were designed by Brad Fesmire of RiverzEdge Arts Project and will be made of steel.Three of the cut-outs will be completed by spring, but Woonsocket's MLK Committee is still seeking funding for the remaining statues. Reps. Jon Brien (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket) and Lisa Baldelli Hunt (D-District 49, Woonsocket) were at the dedication and vowed to help the group secure funding to complete the project.
Community members and local officials spoke at the dedication including Mayor Leo Fontaine and U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI.) The congressman also read a letter acknowledging the celebration by President Barack Obama.
Carol
7:32 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
While the idea of these silhouettes is touching, when I saw the dedication on the news this evening I couldn’t help but wonder how long it will take before they are vandalized and/or graffiti tagged like all the other nice things our city and its good people attempt to do in good faith to improve our neighborhoods. Has anyone walked through our “new” parks lately?
Sandy Phaneuf
8:36 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
Carol, Part of what's innovative (we hope) about this approach is that generally graffiti artists will not cover up another artist's work. This is why the murals - like the one across the street from city hall and the one at Dunn Park remain untouched. I believe the hope is that the same rules apply. Here's hoping it works.