Reprinted with permission of
the Journal-News
From the JournalNews
By Richard O Jones
HAMILTON — Everyone now has a chance to own a piece of
Hamilton.
That would be Alexander Hamilton, the familiar face on the
$10 bill and the man for whom the city was named.
In a joint effort between Historic Hamilton and the City of
Sculpture, a statue of Early American statesman Alexander Hamilton is to be
erected near Journal Square.
Gerry Hammond, chairperson of the City of Sculpture, said
the committee is hoping that citizens will jump on board to help finance the
project. “We prefer that a lot of people partner with us, even if it’s just
with one dollar, so that everybody will have ownership,” Hammond said. “We
don’t want any one person or group to pay for this. It would be more meaningful
to more people and they will have more respect for all of our sculptures.”
An international search for a sculpture design resulted in
the selection of “The American Cape,” a proposal by sculptor Kristen Visbal of
Lewes, Del. to occupy a space in the middle of High Street at Journal Square
that had been designated for a sculpture by the Cityscape plans.
“The City of Sculpture has always talked about Alexander
Hamilton because the city is named for him,” Hammond said. “We thought this
would be a better site than some obscure park where no one would ever see him.
“We advertised in magazines and received 12 proposals — one from Poland and
others from all over the United States.”
One proposal showed Hamilton holding a flag pole and another had him
standing with a scroll and wearing a three-corner patriot hat. But the
committee chose to pursue Visbal’s work because of the way it would complement
the statue of Billy Yank on top of the Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument.
“The American Cape” shows Hamilton in the middle of making a speech with a flag
unfurling like a cape behind him. “This
one was different from most of the historical figures you see,” Hammond said.
“It has a contemporary look to it and is more dynamic. It looks like there’s
movement with the wind in the cape.”
Visbal saw the call for entries in the National Sculptor
Society Newsletter. It appealed to her, Visbal said, because she’s primarily a
figurative sculptor with an interest in history and politics. “It’s such a
great honor to do a historical work such as this,” she said. “It’s our
responsibility to the public to document our history.” She went through every book she could get and
compiled a collection of 27 artist renderings of Alexander Hamilton. She was
also impressed by his achievements, that he was both a soldier and a statesman
who called for a public convention to create the Constitution. “He grew up in
the Bahamas and was completely self-made,” she said. “He was an amazing
individual... the city should be proud to be his namesake.”
Visbal’s other recent commissions include “Boy On a
Dolphin,” installed in the Oceanfront Park at Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and a
pair of sculptures in Colonial Williamsburg, Va. She also has work in the
Merrill Lynch permanent collection.
Motorists entering downtown Hamilton from the east will be
able to see the statue as their vehicles go up the hill from the underpass.
“This piece will also be interesting from the back,” Hammond
said. “Instead of just seeing the back of the man, you’ll see the flag
unfurling. It will look a little abstract.”
Hammond and Visbal are hoping for installation early next spring.
In the meantime, the effort continues to raise approximately $165,000 to finance the project, with an emphasis on getting the young people of Hamilton to participate. Donations of any amount may be sent to The City of Sculpture, P.O.Box 545, Hamilton, Ohio 45012. “We’re hoping that by their participation now that when they’re adults they’ll bring their grandchildren down and tell them they helped pay for that,” Hammond said.