Excerpt from Emma Lazarus’ poem

By DARLA MCCAMMON

Lakeland Art Association

Once the pedestal was completed the Statue of Liberty soon became an icon to those immigrating to this country. We were a country that offered opportunity. The type of immigrant who wanted that opportunity and supported the country and the freedoms available was gladly welcomed. A famous New York poet named Emma Lazarus donated one of her sonnets at an auction to raise money for the pedestal. Read it and see if you can figure out what part of her sonnet was later inscribed permanently on the statue:

“The New Colossus”

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name: Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus, 1883

Facts:

• Overall height including pedestal is 305 ft. 6 inches.
• Height without pedestal is 111 ft. 6 inches.
• Her waistline is a trim 35 feet.
• She weighs 225 tons.
• Seven rays radiate from her crown for seven continents.
• Each ray is about 9 feet long and 150 pounds.
• Her face is 8 feet tall.
• In 1986 she went through a restoration.
• The new torch is now covered with sheets of 24K gold.
• 154 steps take you from the pedestal to the head.
• The green patina covers 3/32 of an inch of copper.
• There are broken chains at her feet. Guess why?
• She holds a 23 ft tall tablet in her left hand.

Stay tuned for our final Chapter on this series about the Statue of Liberty work of art.  Next week we will feature the Edward Moran painting titled “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” 1886.

Coming Up:

• Marilyn Kruger art exhibit: Warsaw City Hall Gallery 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct.
• Oct. 4-29, Steve Creighton Kokomo Art Center 525 W. Ricketts St., Kokomo.
• Oct. 5-29, Robert Hudson and Jennifer Caudill-Penaherra exhibit 302 E. Winona Avenue,
• Oct. 7 through Nov. 13, is your opportunity to win. Stop by LAA, at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw and buy tickets for $2.  All kinds of amazing and valuable artwork and crafts will be raffled on Nov. 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Studio is open Wednesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 8, “Zendoodle” workshop with Lisa Bemish; $10 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information contact artist/author, Darla McCammon at [email protected] or website. Call Lakeland Art at (574) 267-5568.