May

12

Harvey Milk Memorial Sculpture to be Unveiled

Filed Under Arts, Gay Events, Obits 

The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Sculpture - full size clay maquette. (Photo: (c) 2008 Daub Frimin and Hendrickson Sculpture Group Photo by Danielle Nicoletta)Harvey Milk Memorial Sculpture to be finally unveiled in San Francisco City Hall

What: The Unveiling of The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Sculpture
A Free Public Event

When: Thursday, May 22, 2008, 6 – 9PM, Ceremony at 7PM

Where: San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco CA - enter on Polk Street side

Mayor Gavin Newsom, The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee, The Bob Ross Foundation, The San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee, and The San Francisco Arts Commission invite you to a reception and an unveiling Ceremony for The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Sculpture by The Daub Firmin and Hendrickson Sculpture group on May 22, 2008 in City Hall, which would have been Milk’s 78th Birthday.

The reception is a free public event and doors open at 6 PM with the Ceremony beginning at 7PM. It will feature remarks by colleagues of Milk’s, local dignitaries and performances by Connie Champagne and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Food and beverage will be provided.

Background- In 2001 The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a sculpture in remembrance of Supervisor Harvey Milk who became a symbol to the world for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender civil rights. Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the Nation. Milk and (pro-gay) Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in their City Hall offices by a homophobic political opponent on November 27, 1978.

In 2003 a campaign began to raise funds for the commission of the sculpture and The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee was formed as a non-profit organization to foster the project. It took four years to complete the funding and in fall of 2006 the Milk City Hall Memorial Committee, in concert with a large gift from The Bob Ross Foundation and in partnership with The San Francisco Arts Commission, launched a national competition to find an artist.

In January 2007 a panel of community leaders and arts professionals selected three finalists. Maquettes of their designs were displayed for community comment in City Hall and the panel, with overwhelming public support, chose Daub, Firmin, and Hendrickson Sculpture Group as the winning team.

In April of 2008 The San Francisco Arts Commission formally approved the placement of the sculpture in the Ceremonial Rotunda in City Hall where it will be unveiled on May 22, 2008.

Quotes from people involved in this project:

Mayor Gavin Newsom: “This tribute to Harvey Milk is long overdue… it is indeed time for his legacy to be commemorated with a place of honor and distinction in San Francisco’s City Hall.”

Daub, Firmin, Hendrickson Sculpture Group: “Our goal was to capture Harvey Milk’s animated, intelligent and humorous nature in our bust, and elements of his story in bas-relief on the pedestal. We hope that the sculpture, by permanently placing Harvey at the center of San Francisco politics, will enhance the meaning of City Hall and inspire all of us to rediscover Harvey’s tireless fight for the fundamental principles of our democracy — reminding us that we are all responsible for defending the rights of our fellow citizens. We are tremendously honored to have the opportunity to contribute to Harvey’s legacy.”

Daniel Nicoletta (close friend of Milk’s and co-chair of The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee): “Harvey would be very proud of the consortium of people who came together to make this dream a reality, it was supported by a very generous grant from the Bob Ross Foundation which was formed by his dear friend the late Bob Ross who was an early advocate of Harvey’s political career as well as hundreds of individual contributions from all over the world. The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee considers it a great honor to help to give voice and vision to this enduring tribute to someone who gave so much to us.”

About the photo: The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Sculpture - full size clay maquette. (Photo: (c) 2008 Daub Frimin and Hendrickson Sculpture Group Photo by Danielle Nicoletta)

Related Links: - Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Organization
- Wikipedia: Harvey Milk

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