The city of Waukegan, Illinois is considered putting up a statue in honor of native son Ray Bradbury. Here's a link to a newspaper article about the proposed project:
Just in case someone might not recognize the setting of the picture in my prior post (unfortunately, the picture is much bigger than I had wanted), the photo shows the ravine that is located behind Ray's boyhood home in Waukegan, Illinois and which figured so prominently in DANDELION WINE.
The committee is also considering protective measures for the Waukegan homes associated with Ray's life, in hopes of preventing such a tragedy as befell his Los Angeles residence!
Posts: 7334 | Location: Dayton, Washington, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001
This is the press release that the Waukegan Public Library sent out on behalf of the committee. The contact info is below for submitting ideas. Again, the idea does not need to be a sculpture or statue even though the press release reads that way.
Sculpture ideas may be sent by mail or email to Richard Lee at the Waukegan Public Library, 128 North County Street, Waukegan, IL, 60085 or richardlee@waukeganpl.info . For more information or if you are interested in contributing to the project, contact Lee at (847) 623-2041, ext. 250. It is intended that the statue will be fully funded by charitable donations and sponsors. All donations are tax deductible.
Posts: 7334 | Location: Dayton, Washington, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001
Here is my statue suggestion which was very well received:
Since Ray Bradbury considered "The Lake" to be his first really good story, which he based on an incident he said occurred during his childhood in Waukegan, perhaps a sculpture could evoke the image of a young boy and girl playing on the lakeshore.
Has anyone checked drowning records from the area circa 1927-1929 for victims matching Ray's description of the little girl? If such a sculpture or memorial were created, names of any local female juvenile drownings from those years might be included.
I'm thinking, very specifically, female drowning victims between the ages of 6 and 12 who went missing between 1927 and 1929 and were last seen at the lake shore near enough to Waukegan that Ray could have known them or at least known of them--not, of course, everyone who ever drowned in the entire lake! If in some cases bodies were not found, it might be noted which were found (drowned) and which simply disappeared. It might be as few as one person fitting that exact description.
Posts: 7334 | Location: Dayton, Washington, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001
Exciting news! The sculptor that will create the statue of Ray Bradbury to be erected in Waukegan, Illinois, has been announced, along with a depiction of what the statute will look like. The sculptor selected, out of the 41 who made submissions, is Zachary Oxman of Rockville, Maryland. The sculpture will be called "Ray Bradbury: Fantastical Traveler", and will depict Ray astride a rocket ship and holding a book. An effort is underway to raise the $125,000 needed to complete the project, and it is hoped the dedication will take place in Waukegan about one year from now. For a picture of the chosen sculpture, and for information on how to contribute to the fundraising campaign that is underway to pay for the project, click on the following link:
Below is a link to another newspaper article discussing the statue of Ray that will be erected in Waukegan, Illinois. The statue will be placed in front of the Waukegan Public Library at the corner of Clayton and County streets. The article also discusses the 330 cartons of books belonging to Ray that he bequeathed to the Waukegan library, a collection that has been appraised as being worth $500,000.
The installation of the statue is estimated to be completed sometime in 2017. Hope to see other contributors to this board at the dedication ceremony!
Originally posted by dandelion: Great. Don't let Thom Mayne know about any of this and it should be all good.
Ole Thom would probably buy the library, destroy (I mean deconstruct) the statue, and claim he didn't know who it was. Then he would put up a plaque memorializing Mr B, and warm all our hearts.
"Live Forever!"
Posts: 6909 | Location: 11 South Saint James Street, Green Town, Illinois | Registered: 02 October 2002
It has been announced that, with respect to the fund-raising efforts for the statue of Ray Bradbury that will placed outside the Waukegan Public Library, donors who give at least $150 will receive a book from Ray's personal collection, and that donors who give at least $500 will be permanently recognized on or near the statute. While $13,000 has been raised to date, with a promise of an additional $20,000, a total of $125,000 needs to be raised before work can begin. Here is a link to the latest Chicago Tribune story on the fund-raising effort:
Thanks, all please be sure to distribute this news.
Or start a campaign to make Thom Mayne pay for the whole damn thing as part of the eternal restitution he should be compelled to make in atonement for his blasphemy.
Posts: 7334 | Location: Dayton, Washington, USA | Registered: 03 December 2001
