To date, the Liberty Arts Foundation (LAF) has been instrumental in several Liberty Arts projects (mostly associated with the Liberty Arts Commission, our primary benefactor):
After hearing from a few of our supporters and donors we thought it prudent to revise the sculpture to reflect more racial diversity of the children. We made some revisions to China’s uniform, height and revised the boy to reflect African American and carrying a book instead of a baseball glove.
The artist (Martha Aldridge) is progressing VERY nicely and we are sharing some of the sneak peek images with you too.
Since the commissioning of the sculpture our fine artist Martha Aldridge has made excellent progress and we estimate a first quarter of 2018 installation ( weather permitting).
Funds are coming in slowly and now we realize we are are tasked with designing a foundation, support
concrete pier and erection costs as well as the sculpture. PLEASE….every dollar helps!
Since the commissioning of the sculpture ow Lawrence ( China) Slaughter we have heard a range of suggestions by local citizens and friends and have requested some updates to the sculpture.
The children will be rendered in both African American and Caucasian. Many people remembered China wore a policeman’s cap, but we felt it covered too much of his face for proper clarity. His uniform has been updated for gloves and police insignia.
The Liberty Arts Foundation met and voted to award the commissioning of the life sized statue of Lawrence (China) Slaughter standing between two elementary school students to a local Missouri sculpture artist to be named early next month.
The Liberty Arts Foundation donated to the Make Music Liberty event with funds to establish a membership of the Liberty Arts Commission with the Make Music Alliance.
Make Music Day is a world wide event held on the 21st of June every year (the Summer Solstice) since it’s inception in France in 1988. Each Make Music city is independently organized. Often it’s a local community group, media outlet, arts presenter, government agency, or civic leader who champions the musical holiday in their hometown. Citizens, bands, impromptu musical factions gets together to share the international language of MUSIC. Events are held in MANY top cities and all over as co-ordinated by the local sponsor cities or organizations ( like NAMM).
if intersted in being a PERFORMER, a SPONSOR or…hosting a VENUE….check it out:
Regional (Kansas City, Missouri & Kansas) bronze artist interviews are being sought (for the proposed statue/bust of Lawrence “China” Slaughter) and/or scheduled over the next few months. Artists considered: (1) Robin Richerson (2) Edward Spencer Schubert (3) Tom Corbin & (4) Kwan Wu.
Additional artists suggested have been (1) Libby Ritter and (2) Sabra Tull Meyer.
The figure is located at the proposed CSRP (China Slaughter Reading Park) at the northwest corner of Mill street & Gallatin Street adjacent to the Franklin Elementary School building near downtown Liberty, MO.
Our scope is primarily to provide a full sized adult sculpture or if funding dictates a 3/4 sized adult figure. We are also considering additional child sized figures as funds become available after the initial commission.
Alice Thorson ( KC Star) shared a tid bit with Kansas CIty on August 2nd, 2014. The Nelson-Atkins Museum has ideas of an expansion/art District. A “Cultural District“……emanating from 4 corners of the museum allowing further growth and more exhibits and art growth areas.
“The study also includes some ambitious changes and additions on museum-owned property, including rerouting part of Rockhill Road and putting new structures in place of the residential properties to the north.”
the Liberty Arts Foundation is looking into setting up a booth September 13th, 2014 in downtown Liberty ( MO) for the class reunion festivities.
We hope to collect some more funds for the China ( Lawrence) Slaughter Reading Park, collect some video interviews on memories of interactions with Lawrence & other tales of his personal interactions with various past students lives at Franklin.
We hope to be setup & ready from 4pm to approx 10-11pm.
See you there!
Liberty Arts Foundation 