under construction
Author: jeanne56
NOVEMBER STATUE
MARIA BEATRICE d’ ESTE: DUCHESS OF MASSA (1750-1829)
First things first. Before I tell you about the Duchess of Massa, let me explain why I selected her. My route into her life is a little different from the way I choose other statues for this blog and thus, the outcome is atypical. Usually, I come across a women whose story touches me on an emotional level and I’m moved to honor her feminist spirit and altruistic spark with a spot on my landscape of monumental women. I want the whole world to remember their name. Not so with Maria.
In fact, I found very little information about the duchess, except that she married into royalty and reined over a beautiful and profitable marble quarry in Italy that excavated Carrara marble for wealthy leaders. She was a patron of the arts, as were most wealthy women of her era but that’s all I knew. So why did I feature her in this month’s blog entry? The reasons are twofold; serendipitous and cautionary.
A few years ago when I was renovating my kitchen and was in need of countertops, the contractor suggested I pick up a remnant of granite or marble at a local stone vendor. He said there were pieces that had been cut for other projects and I could probably find something for a good price. I fell in love with a long slab of Carrara marble with it’s pure white sheen, fine grey lines than ran through the rock as if Michelangelo himself had painted them. It elevated the look of the entire kitchen. The stone needs care but ten years later, it’s as glistening as it was the day it was installed.
Then last summer while on a cruise of the Mediterranean, we drove past The Apuan Alps while on a bus tour from Naples to The Leaning Tower of Pisa. At first we all thought the shock of bright white atop a picturesque mountain range was snow but soon it was revealed that the bright alabaster sheets were actually slabs of Carrara marble; acres of glorious living stone that seemed to pave a pathway to heaven. The view was impeccable; the marble shone with an unmatched beauty. “Gorgeous” doesn’t even quite do it justice. It’s easy to see why Michelangelo went to great lengths to excavate this very malleable material so he could mold it into his angelic creation, The Pieta. Once you’ve seen Carrara marble in its natural state, it’s makes perfect sense that it’s the stuff of places, temples and extraordinary building like The Taj Mahal.
This summer I found myself in possession of the book, “A View from lake Cuomo.” While I knew that it was a bestseller about a woman who moved to Italy after her uncle died and left her his share in a business in Italy, I had no idea the business was a marble quarry in Carrera, Italy. Coincidence? Maybe, but once I found out that the act of excavating Carrara marble is dangerous and many people die every years just brining it down the mountain, it touched a nerve and made me look at marble in a different light.
About the statue. Maria Beatrice’s statue sits in a town square in Carrara, Italy. Carrara is located in the foothills of the Alps. The statue is a beautiful work of art (carved in Carrara marble, the statue stands on a pedestal, wearing a while alabaster robe and holding a staff and scroll while a lion keeps her safe.) But The Duchess was a rich woman who probably commissioned an artist and sculptor to create a monument in her image so she could live in perpetuity. Blood money; riches made from the broken backs and skulls of her employees. Does the end justify the means?
I often encourage readers to erect more statues of women so we can dot the landscape with women who have been left out of history or will be ignored if we don’t honor them now. But what if using precious minerals isn’t the way to go? While I love my Carrara marble countertop, was there not some other material I could’ve selected that didn’t rob the earth of its precious resource or contribute to the death of its worker? I’ve already mentioned artists who use recycled products, biodegradable materials and 3-D printers. But are these materials environmentally friendlier than the rest? Will they stand the test of time?
Hmm- What do you think? Should we continue to use bronze, marble, granite, metal, glass or even wood and plastic when we design statues? Hard to say. But I still stick with my mission. We need more statues of women to even the playing field. How we accomplish this is neither easy nor cheap, but women still need to be seen and remembered for all the things they do to make the world better for all its inhabitants.
TINA TURNER (1939-2023)
SIMPLY THE BEST
“For anyone who’s in an abusive relationship, I say Go. Nothing can be worse than where you are now.” T. Turner
In September 2025, a ten-foot bronze statue of Tina Turner was unveiled in Brownsville, Tennessee. Almost immediately it drew backlash from spectators and fans alike, calling it an “abomination” and an “insult.” Say what?
The statue, sculpted by Fred Ajanogha, has been placed in Heritage Park, near a high school Tina attended. The Bronze Beauty, as some appreciative folks are calling the statue, is depicted holding a microphone, complete with Tina’s signature wild hair, tones legs clad in a short min skirt, wearing spiky heels. According to the sculptor, the monument emphasized her strength as a woman who wore her hair like a lion’s mane. What’s not to like?
Plenty, according to the naysayers. But art is subjective, often abstract, confounded by personal taste and the eye of the beholder. Other statues of women, especially that of Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe, have also received negative feedback from visitors. What’s the point? When I gaze upon a statue, I choose to look at the life of the woman being honored. It’s already been decided by numerous committees that the woman’s likeness should be carved in stone and memorialized for centuries. In all likelihood the Bronze Beauty will outlive her naysayers. To me, she’s glorious, heartfelt and mesmerizing. You can’t take your eyes off her; even in death and in bronze, Tina is riveting.
Tina led an extraordinary life; she’s a rags to riches success (to learn more about her life go to www.americansongwriter.com or read her memoir, “My Love Story”). Most people know her music, which is legendary, but they also know she escaped from an abusive relationship. But Tina is much more than the sum of her parts. Talented, yes, but she also possessed hutzpah and an ability to keep moving forward. Songs like Proud Mary, Simply The Best, and What’s love got to do with it? “might highlight her raspy, raw voice but her no-holds-bar dancing style and explosive energy on stage elevated her to a higher level. That’s why she earned Rock and Rock Hall of Fame status and numerous Grammy Awards.
But it was her advocacy for domestic violence survivors that makes her stand out. That’s what makes the statue so important. To me, it depicts a woman with a “don’t mess with me bravado” and while it might not look pretty to some, I find it beautiful. While it’s true that her legs appear quite muscular (as do most dancers), to me they evoke a domestic violence survivor’s motto “touch me like that again and I’ll kick you into tomorrow.” My kind of woman.
Rock on Tina! I’m happy that we can add another monument of the matriarchy to our landscape. We need more statues of strong women who stand proud of their accomplishments. You will be remembered.
DICKEY CHAPELLE (3/14/1918 to 11/4/65)
Trailblazer, war correspondent, photojournalist, free speech advocate, truth teller
“If you can’t prove it happened with a photo, it never happened.” D. Chapelle
There are many fascinating women that I come across in my work as a writer who uses a variety of genres to tell a story. Some of the women that I’ve read about haven’t been nationally recognized or memorialized in stone, as they should be. Yet Dickey Chapelle might just be leading the list of “Most Underappreciated Women of the Twentieth Century.” If you’ve never heard of her, you’re not alone. So hold on and listen to the contributions and sacrifices she made to photograph war with all its graphic depictions laid bare for the world to see. Did she face scrutiny and harsh criticism? You betcha. Did it stop her? Only in death. Sadly.
Born over a century ago, even as a young child Dickey was noticeably intelligent, feisty and she possessed an uncanny ability to capture a moment. I won’t list all her accomplishments but let’s just say she hit the ground running. At 16, she graduated from high school as the valedictorian who then received a scholarship to MIT. She quit when she realized she’d rather be flying in an airplane than studying about aviation. A go-getter, she sweet-talked her way into a job as a photographer for TWA and then again into a job as a war correspondence with the marines. Yes, the actual marines. In combat.
Let’s pause for a minute. This happened in 1960. Women weren’t allowed to be soldiers let alone trapezing into the battlefield dressed in fatigues. They were expected to be homemakers and baby factories. Not Dickey, although she was married for a while to a fellow photojournalist and was once quoted as saying that the job of a woman was to “glorify men.” Nothing in my research lead me to believe that a woman who had to fight sexism, misogyny and unchivalrous talk (“Get that broad the hell out of here”) would make herself small so a man could shine brighter. However she did pen a memoir titled, “What’s a Woman Doing Here?” and wore a pearl earring to highlight her femineity (I like to think that the earring signified “Don’t shoot me, I’m unarmed”). But most of all, she placed herself in combat so she could get the best shot. Bringing the truth home, especially during the Vietnam war, was her mission. Her photos screamed- war isn’t pretty-we’re not winning- and death and gore are the backdrop of a soldier’s life.
Her immersive style of journalism paid off. Before Dickey, most of the war correspondents and photographers stayed a safe distance away from combat. In 1963 the Press Photographer’s Association awarded her “Photograph of The Year’ for a picture she snapped in battle. It was the first photo of an American in combat in Vietnam. She would never have made that shot if she watched in the shadows. The sidelines were no place for Dickey.
“You’ve got to survive to get the story out in the world.” D. Chapelle
Unfortunately her decision to stay in the fray cost this hard-bitten, tough as nails reporter her life. On that fateful day in November she was not in battle, but walking the perimeter with a few other soldiers. It’s not clear if something tripped a wire or someone stepped on a mine field but she died at the scene, nonetheless. Dickey was the first woman to die in combat during the Vietnam War.
The life of a war correspondent is dangerous. Not only do they have to worry about dying trying to get “the shot” but so many have become pawns in the game of war, taken as hostages, tortured for information or killed, just for sport. The truth needs to be told, yes, and now with the use of drones, hopefully less photographers will lose their life in search of a story. I’m an advocate for truth, the kind of truth that doesn’t gloss over the ugliness, stays away from using “touch-up” programs and glam shots. But with the advent of social media, popularity of memes, fake news and AI, I fear for the hard truth, the grittiness of life and for stories and photos that make our hearts hurt. Dickey got it, but what a price she had to pay.
If you wan to learn more about Dickey, check out the resource list at the bottom. Sadly, despite all of Dickey’s accomplishments and sacrifices, she doesn’t have a statue or monument erected in her likeness. There is a memorial marker at her gravesite and a plaque that was etched by the marines. However, this is not enough. I find the oversight a travesty. Let’s get chiseling! It starts with one person. Coud be you? Get a petition started with signatures of people who would support this endeavor. Find an organization with deep pockets that could help move this quest alone. Find a sculptor with a soul and a parcel of land. We must honor Dickey with the monument she so deserves.
Rock on Dickey Chapelle! Your legacy is a beautiful testament to women and the power of the story. Long may you inspire women to “tell the truth all, the whole truth nothing and but the truth.”
SOWING THE SEEDS OF THE FUTURE
“There’s nothing like seeing the statue in person. It will change your life.” M.G.
(Women’s Heritage Trail Leadership)
The full title of this blog for those that aren’t frequent readers is “Women Rock: Statues and the Stories They Tell” but for publication purposes it was condensed to www.womenrockstatues.com which gives the reader the impression that we only talk about statues of women. While true, we also include other artifacts that leave behind imprints of accomplishments of great women such as mile markers, grave stones, plaques, stamps, busts, photos, and even original art work; and when appropriate we include men, if they happen to be a part of the statue (see The Embrace, Embracing Peace). But to me, as a writer, it’s the stories the statues tell that intrigue me the most. Without hearing their stories, we can’t appreciate what it was like to walk a mile in their larger-than-life shoes. As I like to say, behind every great statue of the matriarchy, there’s an awe-inspiring story be told.
This month’s fabulous statue, Sowing the Seeds, has a story you won’t soon forget. The statue first caught my eye in an article in Carolina Country, a local magazine created to connect members of a rural electric cooperative. There were only a few sentences in the magazine about the statue but I was curious about the three women depicted in the monument. I was also interested in how a small town such as Franklin, North Carolina could pull off such a momentous feat.
It began with women, of course. The Fork Heritage Association of Macon Country was in the process of developing a Women’s History Trail, a twenty-stop path through the town of Franklin that highlighted women whose cultural contributions were instrumental in the development of the town, when Barbara McRae, vice-mayor of Franklin, had an idea for a signature show stopper. She soon recruited a team of hard-working women who then enlisted sculptor Wesley Wofford to design, build and then erect a bronze statue that would not only honor women but also inspire future women to become cultural icons and civic heroes. When all was said and done, the sculpture became a national sensation.
According to the artist, the sculpture is a metaphor. The base of the statue represents the passage of time and the transfer of knowledge from one culture to another while the seeds represent the importance of agriculture. The touching of hands represent the sisterhood of women, often considered to be the bridge that crosses the cultural divide. The children represent the future.
The three females depicted in the statue are based on real women from the Franklin area. Na-Ka was a Cherokee women who married a Baptist minister (who was then forced to change her name to Rebecca Moss). Na-Ka and her husband bought acres of farming land to plant corn which was then taken from during the hellish period of time known as “The Removal.” Once they returned to the reservation, she promptly took her name back and then used the farming skills she acquired to become one of the most successful corn growers in the region.
Salley was an enslaved woman who found freedom on Na-Ka’s farm. She moved with Na-ka back to the reservation and then became instrumental in finding creative ways to use corn to make it more profitable.
Harriet Timoxena Siles was the daughter of pioneers who inherited a business sense from her parents. She befriended Na-Ka and Salley, and together they became entrepreneurial spirits.
The statue, the first of its kind in North Carolina, is a magnificent work of art. Not only is it beautiful on the outside with chiseled details and exquisite workmanship, but it also has an impactful message of a sisterhood that can cross cultural barriers while finding a path to empowerment without breaking the bonds that bind them. A skill we could all use more of right about now.
Rock on ladies! From the three women depicted in the statue to the mayor to The Fork Heritage Association, team work is what drives everything home. Women get the job done. But in the case, let’s not leave out the men who helped see this project to fruition (men in leadership roles at The Fork and Mr. Wofford, the sculptor, we see you and we thank you.)
This statue is larger than Franklin. A community composed of men and women who understand that it takes different cultures, genders and backgrounds to create beautiful paths to equality is a model for the entire world.
We have more seeds to sow and many more statues to erect.
THE FOUNTAINS OF THE GREAT LAKES
“Listen to the wind. It talks. Listen to the silence. It speaks. Listen to the heart. It knows.
Native America proverb
My husband and I recently went on a cruise of the Great Lakes. We began in Toronto (see June’s submission) and disembarked in Chicago. It was my hope that along the way I’d encounter dozens of statues of women. But sadly that was not the case, which I realize shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me since I’ve been writing this blog for five years about that very topic-the lack of statues of women. Why does it still hurt my feminist soul to know we still have miles of matriarchal steps to walk before we erase the patriarchal impact on art and history? Because women’s work is never done and we must carry this heavy load. So I pull up my big girl bloomers, as women before me have done, and carry on just as the suffragettes did. Their victory is my beacon of hope.
In Chicago, a lovely yet breezy and drizzly city even in the summer, rewarded me with an exquisitely crafted cluster of women, or rather goddesses, in the form of The Fountain of the Great Lakes. But before I go on, a word about Chicago and it’s faceted array of fountains is needed. Also, the inclusion of fountains in this blog gave me a slight pause which up until this point included statues, monuments, sculptures, historic markers, busts, but never fountains. Would fountains meet the criteria I had imposed on myself? Maybe it was the water that threw me because last year on a trip to the Mediterranean hardly any of the fountains we saw had free-flowing water due to water restrictions. But Chicago, with its easy access to fresh water, displayed these fountains with such pride; they even considered some of them to be “must-see-tourist attractions.” So I made my decision- fountains could be included as long as they highlighted the feminine soul and the spirit of the matriarchy.
The Fountain of the Great Lakes, unlike the Crown Fountain, Buckingham Fountain and the Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain, aren’t visible from the street. You have to enter the south wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, but it’s well worth the extra effort. Created by Lorado Taft, the fountain depicts five female nymphs clustered together so that the water flows through the shells they’re holding in their hands in the same way it passes through the Great Lakes. Lake Superior, the deepest and largest of the lakes sits atop while Lake Michigan flows down into Lake Huron which carries the stream of water into Lake Eris until Lake Ontario where it cascades out to the ocean. The fountain is an allegorical representation of the lakes and while its gorgeous in and of itself, it’s the flow of water that makes it a visually stunning work of art.
But it left me wanting more. Why did the females depicted have to be nymphs? Why couldn’t they have been sculptured as historic women from the region? I found it preposterous than this life-sustaining area was barren of trail-blazing women. I was right- my cursory search led me to five inspirational women (I chose Canadian women but you can do your own research). First off, I selected Kateri Tekakwitha who was called “North America’s First Nation Saint.” Then there was Thanadelthur, a Hudson Bay interpreter, followed by Marie-Madeline Jarret de Vercheres, a homemaker who thwarted an Iroquois invasion. Charlotte Small, a married woman who assisted her husband in the mapping of the uncharted lands, came next. Lastly, I selected Nahnebahwequay, a Christian minister. I felt it was my duty as a feminist to replace the nymphs with fully realized women.
The Great Lakes are a wild and wonderful place and before they were colonized and modernized, it was a tough existence. Just existing in this cold, icy wonderland required grit, determination and a hefty dose of ingenuity. Maybe it was a sign of the times or a gross oversight, but women were left out of the narrative. Surely they played a significant role in the civilization of the Great Lake territories. Women had much more to offer mankind than the beauty of their female figure. Our bodies are not just vessels, as they have been portrayed in the fountain, albeit artistically rendered, they are conduits to all that is good in the world.
Have you found a monument of the matriarchy that while beautiful, tugged at your core as if to say, “something was either lost in translation or women have been overlooked, underappreciated and erased from the story longer than we ever could’ve imagined?
Tell me about it. I want to know. Together we can rally our voices. Women not only rock, they roll, gather momentum till they overcome any obstacle that gets in the way.
COMFORT WOMAN/THE STATUE OF PEACE
“Who will tell my story to the next generation?” Unknown
Before I travel, I search for statues of women located in the areas I’ll be visiting. It’s always my goal to take pictures of these statues in “reel time.” This year, I hit pay dirt when I searched for monuments of the matriarchy on my travel plans to cruise The Great Lakes from Toronto to Chicago. First off, in Toronto I discovered Comfort Woman/The Statue of Peace located in front of the Korean Cultural Center near Chinatown and then again, in Chicago, I uncovered the treasured Fountain Of the Great Lakes statue located in the Art Institute of Chicago (see July’s submission). My quick search made it seem as if statues of women were popping up all around the world, but were they?
Toronto was the first leg of my cruise and wow; I was pleasantly pleased with this Canadian’s cities accessibility. The large cosmopolitan city with walkable streets, wonderful views of Lake Ontario, innovative architecture had a historic charm often lost in many American cities. But this busy metropolis evoked a safe haven aura that seemed to say, “Relax, you’re with friends.” This “we’ve got you” laid back attitude reminded me that our sister country was just as honest and inviting as it’s always been, despite what some naysayer may want you to think.
Our visit was short- less than a day but we packed a lot into it. We walked the bustling harbor, visited the amazing Hockey Hall of Fame and ate or way through the St. Lawrence Market. Our favorite food (if you can call donutlike cookies a food source) were the Nutella and Bananas treat we stumbled upon at Beavertails. After dinner, we ubered over to the Korean district where we focused our attention on the Comfort Woman Statue/The Statue of Peace (which is part of a larger world-wide movement.) Sculpted by Steven Whyte, Comfort Woman is considered to be one of the most controversial statues ever erected. It was built to remember the women (numbers are reported to be between 200-400,000 girls, young women of Asian descent) who were either kidnapped, trafficked or tricked into Japanese Military-run brothels and then forced to provide “comfort” in the form of sexual acts to the Japanese solders during WW11. Survivors tell horrific tales where they were often forced to serve as many as 70 men in one day (without birth control or medical assistance). Thousands of women did not survive; reports have uncovered that less than 10% of the girls left the brothels alive).
The controversy arises from the discomfort of men, most of whom can’t handle their own guilt when confronted with their own propensity towards violence, their inhumane treatment of women and their own cowardice (by saying nothing and remaining quiet in the face of atrocity they were ultimately labeled co-conspirators). Bravo for Toronto for showcasing this controversial statue. Only a city that values women and believes in decency and justice would have the guts to display a statue that irks the feelings of men.
Hey America- we’re still devaluing women (just listen to the rhetoric surrounding the Epstein case). We need more statues joining the Statues for Peace movement (see Korea, Tokyo Berlin, Sydney, San Francisco). When I first heard about Comfort Woman, I thought it would be depressing to visit, but it was so beautiful it hurt my heart just to look at her peaceful face. How could anyone look in her eyes and treat her with such cruelty? All I wanted to do was give her a hug.
Men, it’s on you. Not her.
Right a wrong. Gather support for a Comfort Woman statue in your city. It is only when you confront the darkness within you, can you let in the healing light.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE: A WOMAN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL
“ God spoke to me and called me to His Service. What form this service was to take, he did not say.”
When we think of Florence Nightingale, we think of her as a nurse advocating for better sanitary care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War and because of that role she was often referred to as the “Angel in White,” the “Lady With the Lamp” or the “Mother of Modern Nursing.” But she was much more— an English reformer, a statistician, a prolific writer, a champion of education for women, and a mathematician who believed in data visualization (while she didn’t herself create the pie chart of the Venn diagram she certainly paved the way for its inception). In addition, Florence was a devout Catholic who was called by God to do his work (much like Joan of Arc, another young girl who answered God’s call to service) but fortunately for Florence we had stopped burning non-conforming women at the stake by the 1800’s.
Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy to parents of British nobility. Her parents, liberal humanitarians, believed in education for women and thus gave both their daughters a college edge, but while they supported her endeavors, they also hoped marriage and children were in the cards for Florence. But she didn’t share their views. While Florence adhered to a going-against-the-grain view on matrimony, she didn’t consider herself a feminist. She often praised white men in power for her success (notably her father and Sidney Herbert, the British Secretary of War.)
Years later, after receiving many awards and medals, (Royal Red Cross and the Order of Merit), monuments erected in her likeness (there are 3 statues of Florence in Dober alone), other adornments (a stained-glass window in Waterloo) and numerous acknowledgments (the poem “Welcome Eumenides,” Flight of the Swan, a book, and a few movies about her life), I wonder if she might’ve seen herself in a feminist light. I imagine that her induction into the Royal Statistical Society; a high honor for anyone let alone an unmarried woman, was the highlight of her life. Footnote from the author—While Florence was brilliant and decades ahead of her time, others factors contributed to her success. First off- there was the social status of her parents and the doors they were able to open. Then there was her wealth and whiteness that made it palpable for people to digest her independence and intellect. But it goes without saying- her perseverance, grit and take-no-for-an-answer determination led her across the finish line, and for this she should be celebrated and memorialized.
Women Rock! Statues of women dot the landscape with matriarchal prominence while they cause the patriarchy to take notice. It says, loud and clear: Here lies a women of magnificence. If Florence had a little help along the way, I’ll take it. No one ever said women had to go it alone- they just had to go for it. You rock, Florence!
MAJOR CHARITY ADAMS EARLY (12/5/1918- 1/13/2002)
The Hero Behind the “The Six Triple Eight” Netflix film
“We have tried to teach you right from wrong. Just do right.”
It’s not often I gain mind-blowing historical knowledge from a Netflix movie, at least to that extent that I’m propelled to run to the internet and check the facts and references. If Major Charity Adams was as exemplary as the movie portrayed her, I would’ve heard about her bravery by now. No? Sadly not, she only recently became acknowledged for her war efforts. First, in 2018 when a bust of Major Adams was erected in the Buffalo Soldier Military Park in Kansas along with other African-American individuals and their units. Then again in 2019, the House of Representatives passed legislature to award the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal. Recently Major Adams fame blossomed when the bio-pic “The Six-Triple Eight (6888)” was released on Netflix.
The 6888, written and directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington, tells the story of Major Charity Adams, a WAC officer, who served during WW11. This wonderful film didn’t need to fictionalize or embellish Major Adams; she was already a dynamic woman with just the right stuff needed to turn her into a household name. She demanded to be chiseled into an everlasting monument that highlighted her dedication, intellect and hutzpah. Sorry it took so long for the world to honor her, but that’s the way it often is with women, especially black women. But some men, like Mr. Perry, are changing the status quo. I hope many more men follow his lead.
While we face uncertain times, especially with the current administration’s canceling of DEI initiatives, Major Adams had to deal with a world war, a nihilistic disaster, discrimination, racism, sexism, misogyny, and soldiers who didn’t want women in their “man’ s army” The majority of men during her tenure refused to accept a women as an authority figure, any woman, but a woman of color was the last straw for many of them. They stacked the deck against her by throwing up obstacles after obstacle; first be giving with an assignment that was doomed to fail from the start, one they themselves had yet to accomplish. So instead of giving her a hand, they amped up the stakes and gave her an impossible completion date- threw in bad working conditions and little supplies- and then waited for her to fail. But guess what? She succeeded. Of course she did; women get shit down.
Major Adams led the all-black battalion of the US Postal Service Women’s Army Corp (WAC) to victory. She was given the task of delivering piles of undelivered letters and packages to the frontlines. The army had declared “No mail. No moral.” Many of theses packages had the wrong name or address on it, were missing address information or were badly mangled. But the army was certain that if the men had “news from home” the tide would turn and the United States would be victorious. Well, this group of no-nonsense hard-working black women made it happen. They used ingenuity, team work, deductive and inductive reasoning, brute strength, gallons of sleepless nights and an extra dose of wherewithal and sorted it all out in 3 months. Miraculous. Where there’s a woman, there’s a way. But we all know that. About time the patriarchy knows it. It wasn’t until years later that they recognized the tenacity of the women’s battalion, but at least they finally got it right.
I’m honored to highlight Major Charity Adams Early on this blog. We need more and more women like her to dot the landscape with female power. The matriarchy is as strong as ever. Don’t let the patriarchy silence us into complacency. We all have a voice. Let’s use it to rally against the chains of male dominance.
Rock the boat. Rock the world. Rock on!
MUFFET McGRAW: QUEEN OF MARCH MADNESS (12/5/55 to )
“Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet winning championships and having her way.”
As always, I’m on the lookout for statues of women and you know from reading this blog, it’s not as easy as it should be because only 8% of all statues erected are sculpted in the image of women. So, I was pleased when I was sitting in my living room watching March Madness on ESPN when I glimpsed a quick photo of a female statue wearing a green scarf.
“Stop, ”I said to my husband and hit pause.”
“Why?” he asked as if there was nothing to see.
“I want to find out who that woman is.” He knows full well this is my thing so he’s probably just eager to get back to the game.
“Oh, that’s Muffet McGraw,” he said, “the woman who coached Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team for decades. She’s an icon.”
An icon, you say. My kind of woman. The kind of woman that lives such an amazingly successful life that someone admired her so much they raised funds, hired an artist and then memorialized her in stone. Like Joan of Arc, Waving Girl, Harriet Tubman, Gertrude Stein and Sacagawea, to name a few.
Turns out, a statue of Muffet McGraw was unveiled in December 2023 at the Purcell Pavilion at Notre Dame University. Her statue isn’t perched on a pedestal as is often customary but on a lower base to highlight her accessibility. You see, Ms. McGraw is basketball royalty; she led the Irish women’s basketball team during a 33-year career that included 2 national titles and 9 Final Fours; 5 of her players went to on play in the Olympics’ and 10 former students are currently playing in the WNBA. She is the “winningest coach in college basketball history.”
Ms. Muffet retired in 2020 and is currently an analyst with ACC Network. But her legacy continues. She is a feminist who is an advocate for women’s sports and works diligently to secure funding. Ms. Muffet’s success off the courts focuses on developing confident, empowered women who hold leadership positions. While her coaching career was impressive and she reached such a high standard of coaching, she now uses her platform for the good of women’s sports, not just for basketball players, but throughout all of women’s sports. Her article published online in ACLU Indiana, “Elected Officials’ Hypothetical Effort to Save Women’s Sports” criticizes elected officials who say they want to help women’s sports, but then they fail to put the money where their mouth is. All they do is “raise a ruckus about keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports, and they do nothing to help the women who are – day in and day out – dealing with financial inequality.” Ms. Muffet urges these keepers of the purse to Pay Up!
Like I said, my kind of woman; one who is extraordinary in every aspect, and one who doesn’t back down from advocacy and controversy. I’d want her on my team any day. She’s a winner. We need many more women like Ms. McGraw to memorialize in stone, erect in bronze and sculpt in marble. She rocks. And not just during March Madness but ever single day.
Rock on Muffet McGraw!
JANE AUSTEN (12/16/1775 to 7/18/1817): A League In Her Own Write
“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” J. Austen
It’s hard to imagine that Jane Austen wrote her tongue-in-cheek novels about gender inequality, social class, and the perils of marriage over 200 years ago, when feminism lay like a doormat and women were defined by their marital status. Yet, Jane who died at age 41, never married.
Where then, did her witty insights, humorous foresights and ironic commentaries come from? If you ask Virginia Woolf, she’d tell you that Jane got her material from the same place all writers get theirs; “parties, picnic and country fairs.” No really, Jane focused on the simplicity of everyday life and because she had the language skills, money and time to write them down, heads turned. People listened, and many fans are still hanging on her every word.
As an author of many novels, such as Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility and Emma, Jane has had three statues chiseled in her likeness. The reason people love to etch her in bronze is because of her strong female characters they can relate to such as Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Anne Elliot. Men are also fond of her males characters; Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightly and Captain Wentworth continue to be fan favorites to this day.
Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan. Yet. I know, don’t shoot me I’m just the messenger of my own likes/dislikes. However, I am enjoying the “Lizzie Bennet Diaries” on YouTube. Jane has been on my list of “Books I Hated In High School But Need To Reread” so my opinion may change.
But if you’re a fan, you might want to visit one of her statues to show support. You can find them in Basingstoke, Chawton and Winchester. England. But before you go, you need to know that there’s some controversy about whether or not Jane deserves three statues while other equally deserving women don’t have any. I’m not a naysayer on this topic- if people want to erect statues of women, I’m happy. The more the merrier. Jane is a great addition to the blog. She’s had a lot to say and her writing style is easy to digest. And, unlike many authors of yesteryears, she’s still relevant today, which is no small feat considering the divisiveness of our current world As a writer, she had the writing chops to speak her mind as she described and commented on societal rules, patriarchal mandates and economic disparities. Writers, playwrights, and actors continue to emulate, reimagine, remake, update and quote her.
In Janes own words- “The person, be it gentlemen or lady, who had not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
My sentiments exactly. And that is why Jane Austen rocks.
“
“I came to Washington to work for God, FDR and the millions of forgotten, plain common working people.” France Perkins
Like myself, Francis was a sociologist at her core. But unlike me, who channeled my social advocacy into reproductive freedom, she fought for labor rights in the work world. When I left my job as a counselor at the Bill Baird Society (look him up) in 1994, I believed my job was done. Reproductive freedom was the law of the land, or so I thought. Francis, however, never waivered in her fight for a better working environment and the changes she helped implement, are still policies in effect today.
If you’re not familiar with Francis Perkins, she served as the first woman in the United States Cabinet, securing the role of Secretary of Labor from 1933-45. The reason you’ve probably never heard her name mentioned is because many woman, along with people of color, have been written out of the history books; or if not totally removed, their roles were greatly underplayed. Make no mistake, Frances Pekins was a powerhouse. She had a hand in many innovative policies such as The New Deal, Social Security unemployment benefits, the 40-hour workweek and ending child labor. She dedicated her life’s work to improving the lives of Americans. Her policy changes are legendary in the word of economics and business.
Francis did not go unnoticed, at least by women. Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1982, and in 2015, she was recognized as an industry icon. In 2024, President Biden designated her family farm in Newcastle, Maine as a National Park site. Ms. Perkins was many things; a trailblazer, social advocate, ground-breaker, architect of workers’ rights and persistent, but the one word that unequivocally describes her is brave. In 1933, feminism was in its infancy, The Me-Too movement lay dormant and DEI was asleep at the wheel. Francis had a vision of what an equitable and fair work life could look like and she had the grit, determination and wherewithal to pull it off. KUDOS!
Simply put, she rocked the country with her intellectual foresight. It’s about time we honor her as best we can; with a statue. A National Park site is nice and posthumous awards are wonderful but a monument chiseled in her likeness will give her immortality. Go the extra mile. She certainly did! Let’s get chiseling.
OFF THE PEDASTAL: THE LOOTING OF CAMBODIA (1/13/25)
“Statues listen. They have heart. They contain the soul of their ancestors.” Brad Gordon
During the 1970’s through the 1990’s amidst genocide, civil war, and political upheaval, Cambodia experienced a time of mass looting, resulting in the theft of their precious antiquities. Many of these valuable statues were ripped right off their pedestals; the thieves leaving only the feet attached to the base. Who would do such a thing? Investigations uncovered a smuggling network that sold blood antiquities for money. Who would buy such stolen merchandise? Wealthy collectors, prestigious museums and private corperations not only purchased the pillage, they displayed them in plain sight. A cluster of priceless statues was even prominently featured in Architectural Digest. It seem the buyers believed the collection was acquired through legal channels. But were they?
Cambodians don’t think so. According to the Hindu God Visnu, statues are sacred and divine. Once a statue is lost, stolen, or vandalized, the soul that inhabited the stone either dies or looks for another place to rest in eternal peace. Statues are so vital to Cambodia that a repatriation is in place. The Department of Arts & Antiquities (a division of Homeland Security) is aiding Cambodia as it attempts to reunite the missing statues with their pedestal; thus making the statues whole again; in body and soul.
I first became interested in this story (how could I not?) after watching a CBS 60-minute segment with Anderson Cooper. The more I researched the theft, the more I realized the enormity of the crime. Not only statues of men and male gods were looted but women as well. At Angor Wat, a 1,000-year-old temple, hundreds of female statues lay beheaded, legless, armless, and bodyless. The carnage left the peaceful place of worship with an ominous undertone. I ached for these amputated statues. Just listening to the segment and looking at the devastation, I felt the anger of the Gods. If was if I could hear the quiet suffering of the statues as they were severed, limb by limb. The Gods, as well as the people of Cambodia, want their statues returned. As they should.
Women, especially Lakshmi, Goddess of Beauty and Apsara, Goddess of Love were favorites of the looters. The bodies of thousands of nymphs also suffered at the hands of the looters. Here this: Feminism forces of the universe were pilfered. Centuries of beauty and goodness were stolen for profit. This outrage may seem trivial. But it’s not. Most of these statues stood alone, unguarded, defenseless. They couldn’t even hold a protest sign, shout for help, push an emergency button or run and hide. They are simply, there for the taking.
As of this writing, the MET has returned 13 statues and more are in the process of being returned to Cambodia. Numerous people were charged with the theft. Some even faces charges of murder and violence; all in the pursuit of these blood antiquities. As you know from reading this blog, statues are created in the likeness of someone who has risen above the “everyperson” and memorialized in stone, bronze, silver, gold, or wood so they can stand on their pedestal in supreme glory. To remove such a large number of these antiquities for profit is an indescribable tragedy.
On this blog, we honor monuments, usually women, but today we weep for all the statues that have suffered amputations at the hands of profiteers, thieves, looters and anyone else responsible for their violent removal. Statues are not just stone-cold blocks of stone; they’re the embodiment of a soul, the bedrock of history and the manifestation of greatness.
Let’s round up these beauties and bring them home so our souls can sing once again.
U
TATYANA MARKUS: HEROINE OF THE UKRAINE
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
The first time I paid attention to the country of Ukraine was when Putin invaded their peaceful nation and declared war on them. Previously I’d heard the name Ukraine mentioned during the 2016/2020 elections, but it wasn’t until a woman in my writing group published a novel about three generations of Ukrainian women, that I really took notice. And wow! I learned that this courageous country was brave beyond measure. They never once waivered in their commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.
When I stumbled upon The Tatyana Markus Monument, a sculpture dedicated to a brave young women who risked her life for freedom, I first thought she was part of the current regime of freedom fighters, but no, she fought against the Nazis during WW11. The monument, unveiled in Babi Yar in 2006, pays homage to her war efforts against the Holocaust. Here’s what you need to know about her: She was born on 9/21/21 in Rommy, Ukraine and died on 1/29/43, after months of torture at the hands of the Gestapo.
Tatyana, also known as Tatiana Markusidze, was born to Jewish parents. When the Ukraine fell under German occupation, Tatyana joined the underground resistance, along with her boyfriend and father. She was only nineteen yet she reportedly carried out acts of sabotage upon the Nazi regime and is credited with killing dozens of members of the Third Reich. After completing one of her targeted assassinations, she reportedly left a note on the dead body that read, “All of you fascist reptiles are waiting for the same fate.” Unfortunately, her resistance work was cut short at age 22, when she died at the hands of Hitler’s men.
Imagine how brave she must’ve been to join the resistance. But fear didn’t stop her from demanding freedom, not just only for herself but for her countrymen as well. She is well deserving of the title “Heroine of the Ukraine,” which she was awarded posthumously in 2016.
Brave women are everywhere. Let us continue to dot the landscape with physical reminders of their strength and commitment to the cause of freedom, democracy, feminism and the human condition.
Rock on Tatyana!
FLORA MACDONALD: HIGHLAND HEROINE
“Sing me a song of a lass that is gone. Say, can that lass be I?” The Skye Boat Song (from the Outlander theme)
The first time I heard of Flora Macdonald was when I visited Scotland with my husband. We were on a two-week long bus trip of Scotland and one of the sites we stopped at was the Battle of Culloden (1746), a British-led combat campaign against the Jacobite’s, Prince Charles Stuart supporters and most things Scottish. To many who visited the war site, it was just a historic note of a devastating conflict but to me, a woman with Jacobite ancestry, it was personal. I imagined that my Scottish ancestors were dying right in front of my eyes. The conflict between the two groups was jarring- a huge British infantry armed to the teeth and clothed for battle fought against a ragtag group of Scottish Highlanders armed with only rakes, clubs and knives and wearing only kilts. It hardly seemed a fair fight but to the Highlanders, it didn’t matter. They were prepared to fight to the death for their country and their freedom.
The Culloden Battle led to the removal of Scottish culture (the British wanted all reminders of a free country with a unique language, customs and tales wiped from the planet). The Culloden Museum (amazingly well done) offered the war from two perspectives (as if historic sites about genocide can be made impartial). Yet it is here within the display cases, films, holograms, graves and audio tapes that I learned of Ms. Macdonald’s existence. She’s remembered for her part in getting Prince Charles Stuart to safety after Culloden. Right under the nose of the British armada, this 24-year-old Scottish woman from the Hebrides Islands, managed to hide Prince Charles until he was able to escape to The Isle of Skye. How could this be true? Certainly there was more to the story.
“Outlander,” one of my favorite online streaming series, found Ms. Macdonald’s tale as intriguing as I did; they even went as far as including her role in the escape of the prince on one of their episodes (See Season 6, Episode 6). Other arts avenues found her enchanting as well. A dance was choreographed about the jig she did on her small boat to distract the British soldiers while they questioned her and searched for stowaways (See Flora Macdonald Fancy Dance). Music offered another interpretation of the escape with the hauntingly gorgeous “The Sky Boat Song” (now the “Outlander” theme song): Merry a soul she sailed on a day, over the sea to Skye.
But it wasn’t until I read an article in the NY Times Book Review; “The Highland Heroine and the Prince” that discussed the publication of the book “Flora Macdonald: Pretty Young Rebel: Her Life and Story by Flora Fraser that I realized this gutsy young women needed to be memorialized in stone. Flora knew the dangers she faced when she absconded with a known enemy of the state, but she did so nonetheless. While she did suffer a small indignity upon her return to shore, however her reputation rebounded and she became a bit of celebrity. So much so, that she was indeed memorialized in stone. She, a young woman, who’d been overlooked as just a simple silly girl, successfully pulled off a covert mission that most men could not have managed. Could you do what Flora did? When faced with a hard choice that effected the lives of others, could you call upon your strength to negotiate with the patriarchy to outrun the autocracy? Could you right an unjust wrong?
The Flora Macdonald monument can be found on Castle Hill in Inverness, Scotland. An inscription reads: The preservation of Prince Charles Edward Stuart will be mentioned in history, in courage, fidelity, and with honors.” I do pause here for a moment to notice that one could interpret this inscription to mean Flora was honored more for her service to the prince than her bravery. But since I wasn’t there, I’m going to give the inscriber and the sculptor the benefit of the doubt.
I consider Flora as a hero as well as my Highland sister. Now is the time for you to find your family heroines. Unleash them from their dark sleep. We need to tap into their strength, ingenuity, intelligence and quiet dignity. Individually we have one voice. Collectively we are loud and powerful and cannot be ignored. Our ancestors knew this. Lest not we forget the power of the matriarchy.
Sorry- photo unavailable although you can see Marisol Escobar’s sculptor of Georgia O’Keefe in San Francisco, CA at Sydney G. Walton Square
GEORGIA O’KEEFE: A WOMAN ON PAPER
“Her strange art affects people, especially its resourcefulness in dealing with what has been deemed inexpressible.” The Christian Science Monitor
If you google Georgia O’Keefe, you’ll undoubtedly find that she’s considered to be one of the most significant artists of the 20th century; the Mother of American Modernism; and the first female to make a comfortable living from her art work. I first discovered Ms. O’Keefe’s paintings in an exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) when I was a teenager living on the outskirts of New York City.
Art exhibits can either bore you to tears if the artist is not to your liking; leave an empty feeling in your gut if you don’t grasp the concept or emotional depth of the work, or spin a spell-bound web of divineness as the art envelopes you in rapture. Of course at fifteen, I didn’t have the language to describe how I felt about her portraits of flowers, leaves, landscapes, nudes and bones. Even her abstracts had an other-worldly effect on me. While I wasn’t an art virgin, nothing prepared me for her paintings of “Light Iris” or “Grey Line with Black, Blue and Yellow.” So intense was the erotic intimacy, I might as well have been looking at a photo of myself, from the inside. Some of her other paintings also touched my psyche. I’d been to upstate New York for decades and while I loved the mountains, I never saw anything as spectacular as her Birch Trees on Lake George nor did I ever gaze at anything as majestic as Red Hills, Lake George on my trips upstate.
Georgia saw beauty where I saw the emptiness of the mundane. She made me realize that I needed to find a way into the soul and heart of the everyday. For me, that point of entry was writing. Susan W. Albert, author of “Someone Always Nearby” says it best when quoting Maria Chabot, Ms. O’Keefe’s hired man: “I wanted to write in the way O’Keefe painted with discipline, persistence and a perceptive eye.”
For over 50 year I considered myself to be a big fan of Georgia O’Keefe. Then came the crash. Georgia fell off the pedestal and my admiration of her was smashed to smithereens. Things revealed in the book about Georgia’s character were too abhorrent for me to overlook. Perhaps allowing a fictional account of a secondary source to taint my opinion seemed rash but after doing some research, the information stated in the book checked out. I could write it off as just a “sign of the times” but it posed a conundrum for me. I have, in the past, refused to highlight certain men because of their character flaws and abhorrent beliefs. Should I give a woman a pass simply because I loved the art work?
This is the first time I’ve questioned whether or not a woman deserved to be memorialized in stone, commemorated in marble or etched in bronze. I figured if someone else has already vetted the women, hired a sculptor to create a statue, found the funding and partnership with a reputable organization to house it, then the woman was as good as gold. Yet I wrestled for a while with this problem. Here’s my conclusion: while Ms. O’Keefe used an offensive trigger word for most of her adult life and was possibly guilty of treating many people in her employ poorly, she did have the capacity to turn any landscape into a beautiful canvas. The men with questionable judgment never raised women’s status in the art world nor did they inspire generations of people to look at something as more than face value. They certainly didn’t reveal to us that light can live in darkness and resplendence can be found in decay.
When I look at a painting of Ms. O’Keefe’s I don’t see the offensive word she used. Instead I see the way she mixed her pallet till she found a softer hue. I see beauty in shifting perspective. I see the forgiveness of Mother Earth. I see Nature blossoming under a gentle touch.
When I look at Georgia’s massive volume of art, I don’t see a painter who disrespected her employees. I see a painter who was lost in the world of words but with the brush of a few strokes, she could immerse herself in a universe that basked in color, danced among light and shadows and turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. Imperfect though she may have been, each and every canvas she created was perfection; and that is the main reason she will rock this blog.
Women Rock! Their statues and stories empower us, even the flawed ones.
PARIS OLYMPICS: MONUMENTAL TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF FRANCE
“Never put an age limit on your dreams.” Dara Torres
In August, Paris hosted the 2024 Olympics amidst a world bridled with fury. Yet despite the turmoil, Paris took the highroad and welcomed its many guests with open arms. From the moment the Olympics began, Paris dazzled us with its glamor, sophistication and beauty. The city of lights continued to wow us with its dedication to sportsmanship.
Then there was the way the Parisians showcased equality; between nations, gender, race and disability. The opening session, unlike any I’ve ever seen before, wasn’t contained to one space but highlighted the entire city; all of its splendor in full display for the word to see: the Seine, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph and Sacre Coeur, my favorite. But when the ten golden statues of French women suddenly emerged from the Seine as if they were sent from the God of the Water, my jaw dropped. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the show stopping; I’d been enthralled by Paris before. When I was 17 I declared that France was the man for me. Yes, as a teen I was still brain-washed by the patriarchy to believe that my Happily Ever After involved a man. Now as an adult woman who is part of the matriarchy, I know I’m the one responsible for my own happiness. So when I watched the statues rise up from the river, I was spellbound by the brilliance of these golden women. Who were they and what had they done to deserve such a grand entrance?
“It’s about damn time.” Lizzo
I’ve been saying for a while now that statues of men outnumber statues of women by 8:1, and now France, in one swoop, has decreased the margin, if only by a small percentage. But it’s a start. I hope other countries are awakened by this display of feminism and take their lead and erect more monuments of the matriarchy. The Paris Olympics was also the first to have reached gender equality. There was a 50:50 ratio between male and female participants. I can only imagine what our landscape would look like if the ratio between statues of men and statues of women had the same numeric equivalency.
Let’s meet these ten remarkable women and learn about their bravery, integrity and brilliance.
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986). Simone was a philosopher and writer who authored “The Second Sex;” still considered to be “the best in feminist literature.” It should be mandatory reading material for all women.
- Simone Veil (1927-2017). Holocaust survivor, politician and human rights advocate, Simone was instrumental in legalizing abortion in France, known as the Veil Law.
- Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793). Feminist and women rights advocate before it was fashionable, Olympe designed the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female.”
- Alice Millet (1884-1957). Alice was a sports enthusiast who paved the way for women in sports, advocated for equality by creating the Women’s World Games.
- Gisele Halim (1927-2020). Modern day lawyer who fought for gender equality and reproductive freedom.
- Jeanne Barret (1740-1807). Leader in aviation, she was often called the French Amelia Erhardt. Jeanne was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe
- Christine de Piza (1364-1430). Pioneering advocate for intellectual equality between men and women; poet, author, she was part of the heritage of French strong women
- Alice Guy (1873-1968). Feminist pioneer in the movie industry; she trailblazed the cinema for women’s equality
- Louise Michel (1830-1905). Considered to be part of the Paris Commune, she was seen as an anarchist, revolutionary and radical activist (was it because she spoke her mind about injustice, inequality and civil rights?)
- Paulette Nardal (1896-1985). Civil rights advocate and writer who helped the Negritude movement to promote racial equality and the black identity.
The ten statues that rose from the Seine will remain in Paris so everyone who visits can honor these amazing women and their incredible accomplishments.
The ten women (see above) were born between 1364-1927 and died between 1430-2020. Seven hundred years of hard work; century after century, and we’re just memorializing them now. What’s that about? We need to do better. Let’s stop burying greatness and erasing women from the history books. Just as Paris has done, we must place monuments of the matriarchy front and center.
Women Rock! It’s about damn time the word realizes the contribution women have made to humanity, civil rights, intellectual equality, racial equality, and gender rights. How brave these women have been as they slayed the injustice of an unequal world.
Let’s make damn sure we keep their heads above water. Monuments of the matriarch belong on terrra firma for all the world to celebrate.
REAL WOMEN OF FLORIDA (a statue of Mary McLeod is pictured on the left; Marjory Stoneman is to the right).
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Michelangelo
I don’t ask for much when I travel; a comfortable bed to sleep in, friends or family to visit or share my journeys with, good food to eat, soulful experiences and landscapes to “ooh and ah” over. But since I’ve been working on this blog, I’ve added finding a statue of a woman to the list. Half the time I’m able to locate a female statue, but when I find her, she’s either rooted in religion, myth, legend, or folklore. And most of them are un-named. I snap their photo anyway, happy to have a scrap to add to the collection. But lately, I’ve added a caveat; the statue should be named after a real woman (Sorry Little Mermaid and Rita the Troll, I mean you no disrespect.).
Folks, it’s time to heighten the parameters. I’d have thought the world had made greater gains over the past few years and we while have dotted the landscapes with more statues of women, we haven’t covered as much real estate as I’d hoped. Ladies, we still have miles to walk and hundreds of pieces of stone, bronze, or marble to sculpt. Let’s get chiseling!
Here’s an example of my findings. On my most recent trip to Melbourne, Florida to visit a friend, I came up short. No surprise there. But I did find a few statues of women in the sunny southern state and some plans for future development. Meager rations, but I’ll take any kind of progress, even if it’s divvied out in small doses.
Miami: JULIE TUTTLE (1849-1898). Ms. Tuttle is considered to be the “Mother of Miami.” She was a businesswoman who owned land on which Miami was founded. She’s considered to be the only woman to have founded a major American city. A significant accomplishment.
Mount Dora: MABEL NORRIS REESE (1914-1995). Ms. Reeves was a journalist who covered the Groveland Four case; an arrest that charged and convicted four black men of raping a white woman in the 1950’s. Turns out, the men had been falsely accused. Ms. Reese believed the men when nobody else would and she persevered until the truth was finally revealed. However, her efforts got her exiled from her hometown in Lake County. A bust of her, now on display in Mount Dora, welcomes her back by honoring her journalistic integrity.
Key Biscayne: MARJORY STONEMAN DOULGLAS (1890-1998). Ms. Stoneman was an author and environmentalist and is often called “The First Lady of the Everglades.” She’s also the namesake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland where a mass shooting claimed the lives of too many vital young people. A bronze statue of Ms. Douglas can be found at the Key Biscayne Nature Center. Other sites are pending.
Washington, DC. MARY McLEOD BETHUNE (1875-1955). Ms. Bethune was an educator, civil rights leader and suffragette. She was known as “the first black lady of the struggle.” A statue of her can be found in Statuary Hall where she’s the first black woman to have been given this special honor.
Future site; Kennedy Space Center or Orlando: SALLY RIDE (1951-2012). Ms. Ride was a physicist and an astronaut. She’s the first American woman to go into space. Her first voyage was on the Challenger in 1983. Efforts are underway to create a sculptor that memorializes this trailblazer.
Special note: A statue that represented women of the confederacy was recently dismantled.
In case you haven’t been keeping score, I’ll total it for you. I located three statues of named women in Florida, none of them in the Melbourne area. There’s one woman monument with Florida ties located in DC and another female statue is pending near the space center. Seems to me there must’ve been more than five women over the course of history that’s made a significant contribution to society (I apology if I’ve missed anyone). Either the women were overlooked, written out of the history books or pushed aside in lieu of men. I’m told there are many factors that go into creating a new statue. First off, the nominated person must demonstrate American exceptionalism; there must be a funding source or they must have the full support of a large organization or corporation. Then a location that allows for maximum exposure and viewing must be secured. An artist must be commissioned. The nominated person must be above reproach and should grace the resting space with dignity. They need to be considered “a cut above the rest” and should project a level of humanity everyone should strive to attain. A tall order for sure. But women of Florida are up to the challenge.
For starters, you can find a list of women who’ve made Florida proud at the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. A list of names is etched on a wall and can be found at the state capital.
Be brave. Start a campaign to fund a new statue. Use one on the list or nominate one of your choosing. Feminism starts at home. Get chiseling! The matriarch is counting on you.
PORCH OF THE MAIDENS: KAPYATIE
“There is no beast, no rush of fire, like a woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.”
― Aristophanes, Lysistrata
As someone who gushes over statues of women the way others lick their lips in anticipation of a good meal, the prospect of uncovering numerous statues on my upcoming Mediterranean cruise caused me joy. But to my dismay, what I found was the equivalent of, “I traveled from Barcelona to Athens via the Rock of Gibraltar and Istanbul and all I got was a t-shirt.” Yes, I found statues of women, but most of them were that of either the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene or goddesses such as Athena or unnamed, barely-clothed young maidens. Where were all the modern women who changed society by their incredible accomplishments? Where were all the ancient women who relied on their humanity, intelligence and strength to live harmoniously among the patriarchy? Were they all erased by history or merely ignored?
I asked every tour guide on my trip if they could point out statues of women as we strolled along the cobblestoned streets, historic sites, eateries and museums (case in point: most of the guides were women so I figured that’d have a vested interest in my request-wrong!). Very few complied, except our guide in Athens who after a delicious authentic Greek meal, handed me (and my two travel mates) souvenirs of a white statue etched with the name “”Kapyatie.” He said we’d find the six sisters at the Erechtheion atop the Acropolis. We never made it. Turns out we didn’t have the correct paperwork needed to use the elevator. With an angry hand, I shoved the statue into my sac and forgot about her. When I was going through security (again) in Chicago, a scan revealed that the statue’s head had broken off in my carry-on. No worries, I thought, she’s mostly worthless. But when I got home, and held her in my hand, a connection to this small, fragile replica arose. Who was Kapyatie and why was she memorialized for all to remember?
Kapyatie, which means “carved in stone” is a caryatid pillar that serves as an architectural support or column. Said to represent the pressure humans feel under the weight of destiny, philosophers believe these female figures symbolize courage. Despite the heaviness of the task, the maidens never abandon their post. Caryatids date back to 421-406 BC and while the Porch of the Maidens, originally clothed in bright colors was constructed in honor of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, the maidens as a unit represent women doomed to hard labor.
If you closely at the statues, you’ll notice they’re young, probably virgins, and elaborately dressed. It’s speculated they were sculpted to delight spectators with their beauty. Whether they were modeled after female deities or mortal women is unknown but it’s clear they were created to give the Greek community a supportive place to worship. To me, however, they provide a different message: Life is hard but for those that remain upright, sturdy and dignified, you’ll be rewarded with eternity glory.
Rock on, fair maidens! While you may appear complacent, it’s your understated elegance and hard exterior that survived the test of time. If anyone rebukes the importance of these six maidens, I ask this question: Centuries from now, who will be bowing at your feet?
THE 1898 WILMINGTON MEMORIAL
“Remember that hope is a powerful weapon when all else is lost.” Nelson Mandela
I’m not sure why I always search far and wide for statues of women instead of looking close to home first, but with a few exceptions – Lady Justice, Waving Girl, Rachel Carson and the two historic makers in Raleigh and New Bern – that’s been my MO. But the other day as I was diverted into downtown Wilmington due to bridge work, I drove right past a local historic memorial and while it wasn’t a statue of women (or men either) I knew intuitively it was time to add this sculpture to the blog.
TRIGGER WARNING: The story behind the sculpture is not pretty, although the statue itself is stunning. The problem is that the memorial makes us remember the 1898 riots which were steeped in racism and rooted in violence. It does not paint Wilmington, NC in a good light.
DISCLAIMER: While I’m not originally from the south (born and raised in NY) I’ve been calling Wilmington home since 1994 and if I, as a resident, don’t take responsibility for past generations’ horrific acts, then history is doomed to repeat itself (I shudder at the thought). Especially now. Current national overtones and underpinnings are ripe for disaster. So listen, lean in and buckle up.
BACKSTORY: While others have told this story better than I have (check out the Pulitzer Prize winning book, Wilmington Lie and the riveting middle grade novel, Crow). But I’ll do my best to convey the truth and not sugar coat the facts.
After the end of the Civil war, many former slaves went to Wilmington to seek work, raise families and make something of themselves. At the time, Wilmington was 56% black as well as the largest port for miles. Many former slaves succeeded and became productive members of polite society, becoming educated as doctors, lawyers and teachers. They held public office as elected officials. Their success angered many white males. The Civil War might’ve been over but the mindsets of many former slave owners hadn’t changed. Tension arose. On Nov. 10, 1898, “an armed mob of whites removed from office duly elected biracial government in what is considered to be the only successfully coup d’etat in the history of the United States” (from the inscription engraved on the wall of the memorial). Not Wilmington’s finest hour, to be sure.
Black men were either killed or put on a train and told never to return. Women fled into the woods with their children and elderly family members. History is lax about the death count but fatalities were estimated to be between 10 and 300. One thing we do know for certain is that the violence was not accidental. It launched a statewide campaign which spread to other states in the south to regain control of the state government and disenfranchised blacks; and most importantly to create a system of legal segregation. The 1898 riots are said to have sparked the Jim Crow laws, some of which are still on the books. As I said, not a pretty story.
The memorial has unleashed a renewed interest in this untold scandal. To date, no one has ever been punished for this racial uprising. It’s been reported that President McKinley, a supporter of racial equality, knew about the coup but didn’t intervene for speculated bureaucratic/political reasons. Since then though, many statues of white men who most likely participated in the coup, have been either toppled or dismantled.
THE 1898 MEMORIAL: The abstract sculpture, erected in Nov. 2008, consists of six elongated bronze paddles which honors water and symbolizes purification, renewal, rebirth, forgiveness, cleansing and wholeness. The Cape Fear River stands alongside the statue as a testament to a community, that 100 years later, finally has the courage to acknowledge the injustices of the past. The sculpture offers a future full of hope and reconciliation. The paddles remind us that through water, we can safely paddle from one world to the next. We journey along the path in hopes that we “move forward together towards a society of greater justice and inclusion for all its citizens.”
While this story isn’t directly about women or feminism, it’s a knock on the white patriarchy and a reminder that we cannot let his kind of racism return.
Hope in any form deserves to be written in stone, engraved in our souls for all eternity.