Four Spirits (memorial)

Four Spirits is a proposed monument to the four victims of the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church. The bronze statue, commissioned by Four Spirits, Inc., headed by Carolyn McKinstry. Other members of the group include Chris Isom, Melodie Echols, Martha Bozeman, Doug Jones, Kimberly Brock, Yvonne Kennedy, Drew Langloh, Mark Kelly and Rick Journey.

The memorial, whose name was inspired by Sara Jeter Naslund's 2003 novel, is to consist of life-size depictions of the four girls: Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Denise McNair, depicted in a playful moment on a park bench. Six doves in the sculpture represent the lives of the four girls as well as two other youth who died that day in racial violence: Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson. The bench will have enough space on it for visitors to interact with the sculpture. The artist Elizabeth MacQueen, was one of six who responded to an advertisement in WELD for Birmingham for proposals.

The group raised the needed $250,000 to fund the production of the work and its installation in the park's northeast corner. MacQueen cast the work at Mussi Artworks Foundry in Berkeley, California. It was unveiled at a dedication ceremony on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the bombing on September 14, 2013. Reverend Joseph Lowery gave a keynote address in which he said "How sweet it is to see the citizens of Birmingham engage in a common effort to serve the common good." Author Sena Jeter Naslund also read from her 2003 novel, "Four Spirits (novel)" which inspired the memorial.

A 30-minute documentary produced by WIAT-TV about the creation and dedication of the sculpture, entitled, "Hope & Honor: A Tribute to Four Girls," won a Southeast regional Emmy award.

References

• Gordon, Tom (April 18, 2013) "The Four Spirits Project". Weld for Birmingham
• Gordon, Tom (September 13, 2013) "Four Spirits unveiled across from Sixteenth Street Baptist Church." Weld for Birmingham

External links

• Four Spirits website
• "Hope & Honor: A Tribute to Four Girls" documentary at Youtube.com