03, November 2014:
Zora Neale Hurston Gravesite – Liccione -
Memorials are great way to show the story and life of a certain individual. It shows their honour, their passion, their strength and everything related to them in just one piece of art. And the gravesite memorial of Zora Neale Hurston, made by Master Artist James Liccione, did just that. The exemplary way used by Jim Liccione to portray the life of Zora really justified her. In just a piece of art, in one glance, you’ll surely remember her as well as the things associated with her when she was still living.
Zora During Her Lifetime
Zora Neale Hurston, born on 1891 and died by the year 1960, was an anthropologist, folklorist as well as an author during her lifetime. Her works which included various forms of literacy works like novels, plays and essays are well known even today.
Zora had resourcefully dedicated her early life studying at different universities while collecting various folklores in different places like the Caribbean and South America. She also published one of his early works during her school years for the university newspaper.
She was also a part of the Harlem Renaissance and spent time with some renowned writers there. She studied anthropology in Barnard College as well, and has published other literary works afterwards. In 1937, she also published her masterpiece novel which was in fiction, entitled ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’. Aside from that, she gave birth to other literary pieces, including her autobiography which was entitled ‘Dust Tracks on the Road’.
Zora Neale Hurston’s Memorial
Based on what James Liccione have said, he wanted to do something soulful, enchanting, and inviting to serve as a poetic memorial for the special life of Zora Neale Hurston. This was what Liccione have exactly done. Mr. Liccione gave credit to artist Caryl Jean Westergren for her research. Zora’s gravesite memorial is eight feet tall and three and a half feet wide, which consists of two columns with panels on both front and back of each column. He depicts Zora’s smile in the memorial monument and captures the soulful eyes of the writer. He also used bas-relief sculptures, which was made of terra cotta clay and was fired, then were put on panels and cemented on columns. He further beautified and emblazoned the memorial with things that were appreciated by the late Zora — flamboyant hats and roses. And, he also added two panels which showed books with her quotes that signified her love and passion for literary work. The Zora Neale Hurston Memorial has an overall feeling of warmth embossed with the evident passion and beauty of the exemplary and extraordinary life of Zora Neale Hurston. The goal of Liccione to tell the story of this great woman through this artistic and soulful artwork was beautifully fulfilled and done. It will continue to inspire and amaze anyone who bears witness to it.
http://zoranealehurstonmemorial.org
Written by Latoya Lawrence
