Butler to present Black History Month program

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Butler Institute of American Art will dedicate a sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. at a Black History Month program Sunday.

The 300-pound bronze sculpture of the civil-rights leader was created by John Wilson in 1982 as a prototype for an 8-foot sculpture of the same subject that was installed in Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1983.

The Butler, 524 Wick Ave., purchased the piece this year, but it has been on display at the museum since last spring.

Sunday’s program will also call attention to its collection of works by African-American artists. The works are always on view in the museum’s galleries.

The pubic is invited to attend the free program, which will begin at 2:30 p.m in the Beecher Court. The program will include:

• Comments about the sculpture by Butler Director Louis Zona.

• A presentation of the famed “I Have a Dream” speech by 21 WFMJ-TV broadcaster Madonna Chism Pinkard.

• Remarks by the Rev. William King of Price Memorial AME Zion Church.

• A performance by the Price Memorial choir, under the direction of Hugh Frost.

Butler docents will be present throughout the afternoon to direct attendees to view some of the museum’s permanent collection works by African Americans, which will be designated with signage throughout February.

Wilson’s bronze sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. is also on permanent view. Accompanying it are drawings of King by Wilson, which are on loan from Martha Richardson Gallery of Boston.

A noted sculptor, painter and printmaker, Wilson is best known for his powerful portraits of African-American men. The sculpture on view at the Butler is one of many he created of Martin Luther King.