The VIPP Report: Sculptor Ed Hamilton’s latest project unveiled of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted on by

Image

The VIPP Report: I wanted to share with you some exclusive photos of Sculptor Ed Hamilton at work. I watched Hamilton carefully work his way up and down the piece carefully defining creases in the sleeve of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s jacket to Hamilton looking him in the eyes as if they were talking. To see a visionary in the arts create the likeness of another visionary in the civil rights movement was truly a historic moment. I even caught him closing his eyes as if he was trying to remember Dr. King and his image. Hamilton had this determination in his eyes that everything had to be perfect before he sent it to be bronzed. This weekend his vision came to life.

The City of Newport News commissioned the Louisville artist to create “The Unfinished March”. It’s a bas relief of Dr. King along with the men, women and children walking along side of the civil right leader is located at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza at 25th and Jefferson Avenue.

Hamilton says “I’m truly humbled and honored that the City of Newport News asked me to recreate a moment in Civil Rights that marked a significant piece of history. People from all over the world will be able to see how I captured Dr. King and other civil right leaders walk for freedom, justice and opportunity. When you walk away, I want it to give you a sense of pride and hope for the future.”

Other works Hamilton has designed is the 16th President of the United States and Kentucky native Abraham Lincoln with the Lincoln Memorial which is located along the Ohio River in downtown Louisville. He’s known for but not limited to is The Booker T. Washington Memorial in Hampton, VA, Spirit of Freedom in Washington D.C., Joe Louis Memorial in Detroit, MI and the Amistad Memorial in New Haven, CT.
Hamilton has an autobiography, “The Birth of An Artist: A Journey of Discovery” (Chicago Spectrum Press). The book outlines his journey from hopeful art student in Louisville, Kentucky to nationally acclaimed sculptor.

 

To learn more about Ed Hamilton and his works contact VIPP Communications at 502-582-7716 or by email info@vippcommunications.com.

(Click link to see photos of the Hamilton working on “The Unfinished March”)

http://www.whas11.com/community/blogs/news-blog/The411-with-Sherlene-Shanklin-Sculptor-Ed-Hamilton-unveils-latest-project-honoring-Dr-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-259602661.html

ImageImage

The VIPP Report: Da’Ville Classic Drum Line Showcase

Posted on by

Image

The River City Drum Cultural Arts Institute welcomes drum lines to the city of Louisville for the battle of bragging rights during the 8th Annual Da’Ville Classic Drum Line Showcase. It’s all goes down this Saturday, April 26th at Iroquois Amphitheater. Community teams, high schools and colleges will show what that have by using precision and skill. The showcase will begin at 3:00 p.m. and tickets are only $10.00 per person for the official Kentucky Derby Festival event.

Miles College and Lincoln University will represent the post-secondary division. There will be four area schools in the high school division. They are Central High School, Louisville, KY; Art Academy, Columbus, OH; Columbus East, Columbus, OH; and the Academy of Shawnee, Louisville, KY. There will be six community teams in attendance representing Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. The River City Drum Corp, Louisville, KY; Saints, Columbus, OH; 3DI, Dayton, OH; Pick Percussions Pulse of Peoria, Illinois; Boom Squad, Evansville, IN and the Shawnee Arts & Cultural Center will all perform.

Ed White, Executive Director says “I’m happy to see so many teams both local and surrounding states participate in the showcase. Youth have been practicing for months for this opportunity and they will be bringing everything they’ve got. I along with the other teams make a conscious effort to help our youth achieve both in the classroom and in life. We provide great after-school opportunities for our youth and they earn scholarships not only in academics but in music.”

To purchase tickets you can call Ed White at 502-905-2908.

The VIPP Report: 50th Anniversary March on Frankfort

Posted on by

mlk+in+frankfort+pic

The VIPP Report:  March 5, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary on the “March on Frankfort” which was initially in support of equity in public accommodations.   We spoke to the last surviving organizer Sen. Georgia Davis Powers.   In 1967, Powers became the first person of color and the first woman elected to the Kentucky State Senate. She will be in attendance Wednesday and at the age of  80 will take the historic walk once again.  Powers says she will be speak right after the Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear in the program.

The rally will commemorate what Civil Rights leaders accomplished by urging Kentucky to pass a law that would help end segregation by making discrimination illegal in the area of public accommodations such as stores, restaurants, theatres, and hotels.  The march helped build support for the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and helped result in the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966.

Local organizers will meet at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and convoy to Frankfort, Kentucky.
The VIPP Report will take you up close to the place where Dr. Martin Luther King, baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson,  Sen. Georgia Davis Powers, Kentucky Civil Rights leaders and 10,000 marchers converged on the capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky in 1964 making the Bluegrass state the first south of the Mason-Dixon Line to have a state Civil Rights Act.

The march will begin at 10:00 a.m. People will gather at the corner of 2nd Street and Capital Avenue at 9:30 a.m. to line up in order to proceed to the State Capitol, 700 Capitol Ave.
Follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.  If you have photos you want to share send them to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.

The VIPP Report: Tuskegee Airman & World War II veteran Alvin LaRue Sr.’s funeral was held in Louisville, KY

Posted on by

Image

The VIPP Report by Sherlene Shanklin: Today friends and family paid their final respects to one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen.  Louisvillian Alvin LaRue Sr.passed away on Monday, February 3rd.  LaRue was a flight officer for the Tuskegee Airmen and World War II veteran.  He retired from the Army Corps of Engineers.
I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to find the Kentucky members of the prestigious Alabama unit about 13 years ago for Black History Month.  The first person I found was Alvin LaRue Sr. I knew him because I knew his son.  We sat down and talked about his accomplishments and how important it was to let people know their history. I remember that he was very humble and so willing to share his story about the segregation in the Army even though they were all fighting for the same thing.
LaRue is a native of Louisville and he was a student at the University of Pittsburgh when he was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1943.  LaRue then went on to become one of America’s first Black military airmen.
LaRue was buried today at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff, KY. Alvin LaRue Sr. was 89 year old.
During this Black History Month remember those who made sacrifices so that their children, and their children’s children could have a better life.
If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com

The VIPP Report: Gospel artist Marvin Sapp on tour to help promote school choice in urban communities

Posted on by

marvinsapp

The VIPP Report: Dove & BET award winning gospel artist Marvin Sapp is currently on his “School of Choice Tour”. The 11-city free tour is in Louisville, KY tonight. Sapp along with Sunday Best season two contestant and RCA Inspiration label mate Latice Crawford and the Doctor of Comedy Henn Sapp will be at Christ Temple Christian Life Center.

Sapp will share his inspirational story of his late wife Dr. Malinda Sapp who had a vision to take inner city children from great to greater through education. Sapp says he’s excited about partnering with the Black Alliance for Educational Options Partner (BAEO) again, helping to promote school choice to urban communities. Their hope during the tour is to make parents aware of their options when it comes to public education.

After Louisville’s show, The “Marvin Sap School of Choice Tour” heads to Nashville, TN on the 12th, followed by Chattanooga, TN on the 13th and Atlanta, GA on Friday night, February 14th.

If you have a story send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.