Robin Borglum Kennedy (Granddaughter of Gutzon), Jan 15, 2021
“Personally I think your idea of bronze is the perfect answer! Bronze is durable and what I like about it seems to promote interaction and touching. Can‘t you see children climbing all over the boat pretending they are finding the wilderness? Adventurers!
The Seated Lincoln statue in Newark is a perfect example - GB wanted it set at ground level just for that reason and the governor or mayor wanted to fence it off to protect it, but GB wouldn‘t allow that. Now the seat and his nose are shiny gold colored from the patina being rubbed off - because it means something to them to touch it.”
Gutzon Borglum’s Seated Lincoln, sculpted in 1911 at Essex County Court House, Newark, NJ
“Some years ago the Santa Fe Museum discovered a plaster bust that GB did ... [We] argued that the only reason he left anything in plaster was because no one offered to pay for the bronze! Finally they [cast it in bronze] and it’s quite handsome and now they can display it without worrying about chipping and breakage.”
Gutzon Borglum’s Wars of America, erected in 1926 at Military Park, Newark, NJ
Muskingum Park Statue Restoration Phase
- Replicate Sandstone Statue in Bronze……………………….…600K
- Move Sandstone Statue to McKay Lodge for Restoration….….240K
- Renovate Esplanade and River Landing……………………..…600K
- Installation of Bronze Statue……………………………………120K
Total Project: $1.56M