The power of education

This statue captures my imagination every time I walk the riverfront. So lifelike, I often expect him to strike up a conversation on his reading. James Bradley, once a slave, came to Cincinnati after purchasing his freedom. He went to seminary and argued publicly for education for all slaves. I wanted to capture the realistic nature of the sculpture, with the skyline of Cincinnati (where he was prominent in abolition movements) in the background. The fading paint on the bench and the moody sky just added to the story of Bradley's life.
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