Oakland to honor 25 leaders in huge sculpture

[The Straight Story]

Oakland to honor 25 leaders in huge sculpture


The $7 million monument, "Remember Them," features 25 famous people who fought for peace or human rights. They're an unlikely crew, ranging from Winston Churchill to Malcolm X to Harvey Milk to Mother Teresa, soon to be joined in eternity.

The monument, to be installed in a park next to the Fox Theater, will be one of the largest bronze sculptures in the United States. It will be three stories tall, weigh about 25 tons and span 90 feet - a third the length of a football field.

"People don't usually pay attention to public artwork. But the artwork that people get excited about - it's big," said Oakland artist Mario Chiodo, 48, who until now was best known for his horror masks and Las Vegas sculptures. "If I had my way, it would have 300 people. But you've got to start someplace."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/02/MNH91B6HVN.DTL#ixzz0bY3RalHd

[Ken Burch]

1. If they're gonna have Winston Churchill there, I want Clement Attlee too.

And also maybe James Connolly.

[LiberalFighter]

2. When local govts have financial problems?

Even if they don't have should they be spending taxpayer money on something like this?