Doc Interview: Creation of a Civil Rights Monument
微密圈 College is fortunate to be located in the Capital District of New York state,
an area that is home to many creative and documentary artists. As a result, documentary
studies students may have the opportunity to hone their skills as interviewers in
conversation with area creators. In spring 2018, students interested in "Documenting Makers" will develop written and video profiles in a course led by Marc Woodworth, editor
of Salmagundi. This fall, Emily Rizzo'18 talked with sculptor Patrick Morelli about his work on
the Behold monument.
On January 11, 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia, the Behold monument was unveiled by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Located in the National Martin
Luther King Jr. Historic Site, the monument was created as a tribute to her late husband
and serves as an inspiration for all who fight for human rights.
Inspired by the Kunta Kinte character in Roots, the 10-foot bronze sculpture was inspired by the ancient African ritual of lifting up a newborn baby to the sky and reciting the words, "Behold the only thing greater than yourself."
"I wanted the Behold monument to glorify those aspects of Dr. King's character that
I felt distinguished him as a truly great man ... first, his ability to defend a morally
courageous鈥攖hough often, unpopular鈥攃ause in the face of seemingly overwhelming opposition,
and second, his ability to maintain his dignity and a genuine spirit of brotherhood
in the face of the cruelest and most ignorant threats, insults, and indignities believing
that, ultimately, the righteousness of his convictions and beliefs would prevail."
鈥�Patrick Morelli, sculptor's statement
MDOCS' audio doc student Emily Rizzo, intrigued by this Saratoga sculptor's story, visited his studio in September 2017 and led an interview about the creation of this famous monument. .
To hear the entire oral history captured during this interview, .
More about the artist
Patrick Morelli, a graduate of Duke and Syracuse universities, is a sculptor, painter, digital artist, photographer and site-specific architectural designer. His work is distinguished by visual beauty, emotional depth, intelligence of design, technical excellence and a universal human and fine-arts significance. His virtuosity has been demonstrated in his ability to create realistic as well as abstract/modernist sculpture, architectural designs and paintings of the highest quality, imagination and originality.
The sculptor鈥檚 work is in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution鈥檚
American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.; the Tennessee State Museum; and the Pepsi
Cola corporate collection, among others, as well as in the private collections of
Ms. Anne Ford, Rudolph Giuliani, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. and the estate
of Alex Haley.
Awards include the National Sculpture Society鈥檚 Barrett-Colea Foundry Prize, a Dewitt
Wallace Reader鈥檚 Digest Grant and the National Arts Club鈥檚 Exhibiting Member鈥檚 Bruce
Stevenson Memorial Portrait Painting Award.
(Excerpt taken from )