Marian A. Spencer Statue
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Marian A. Spencer is the perfect person to break the barrier to become Cincinnati’s first named woman’s statue
The City of Cincinnati has a number of statues within the city border. Some are politicians, many are military leaders, some are educators – but not one is a woman. While there are statues of women, such as Germania, the statue that adorns the former German Mutual Fire Insurance Company downtown, or the Genius of Water on the Tyler-Davidson Fountain, there has never been a statue in our city honoring a real woman.
The Women’s City Club recently launched an effort to remedy this omission in our city. We have found a woman we believe would be the perfect person to break this barrier.
DONATE TODAY to help place a statue of Marian A. Spencer at the Smale Riverfront Park and join the Woman’s City Club for the dedication of this first named female statue in Cincinnati on TBD!
$1,000 Freedom Rider
- One of 99 signed prints of the artist’s original concept drawing
- Biography of Marian Spencer: “Keep on Fighting”
- Recognition in all printed materials
____$500 Supporter
- Biography of Marian Spencer, “Keep on Fighting”
- Recognition in Dedication Program
____$100 Friend
- Recognition in Dedication Program
Spencer Statue Update
The Marian A. Spencer statue is now completed. The last step in the preparation and the construction of the statue was finalized the week of January 11, 2021. Patina, which was applied to the statue last week, was the final step in the process. What is patina? According the sculptor, Tom Tscuchiya, patina is a film produced on the surface of the bronze that both protects the metal and improves the statue’s aesthetic appearance. This film is created by applying various chemicals to the surface of the bronze. The chemical reaction produces various colors and tones on the bronze.
Marian’s statue had a first application of liver of sulphur to create a charcoal color effect. This first patina application is burnished with Scotch-Brite to reveal the golden raw bronze.
Next, ferric nitrate was applied to create a warm, brown hue. This also was burnished to reveal the raw golden bronze on certain parts of the statue.
Finally, wax was applied to seal the patinated bronze. The statue will now be 100 percent complete and ready to install.
However, the installation will not take place until March, 2021 as the weather needs to be more temperate. The Marian A. Spencer statue committee will announce the date of the installation, and a dedication ceremony will be held later.
Statue Campaign News Coverage:
WLWT Channel 5 story: https://www.wlwt.com/article/statue-to-honor-civil-rights-icon-marian-spencer/29445077
WVXU 91.7 FM story and interview: https://www.wvxu.org/post/statue-honoring-marian-spencer-coming-smale-park#stream/0
WCPO Channel 9 story: https://www.wcpo.com/news/our-community/civil-rights-icon-marian-spencer-to-be-honored-with-life-sized-statue-along-cincinnati-riverfront
WXIX Channel 19 story: https://www.fox19.com/2019/10/11/local-club-city-leaders-announce-fundraising-efforts-build-statue-honoring-marian-spencer/
WKRC Channel 12 story: https://local12.com/news/local/group-raising-money-for-marian-spencer-statue