Father Damien (Escobar) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Father Damien |
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The statue in front of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol
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| Artist | Marisol Escobar |
| Subject | Father Damien |
The Father Damien Statue is a very important sculpture found at the entrance of the Hawaii State Capitol building in [[Honolulu, Hawaiʻi]]. This building is where Hawaiʻi's laws are made. The statue is also known as the Saint Damien of Molokaʻi Statue.
A second copy of this bronze statue is in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It is part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, a special display of statues representing each U.S. state. The statue honors Father Damien, a Catholic priest from Belgium. He gave his life helping people with leprosy on the island of Molokaʻi.
Father Damien is seen as one of Hawaiʻi's greatest heroes. He was made a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. The statue is made of bronze. It shows Father Damien later in his life, after he also got the disease he was helping others with. The artist carefully showed the changes to his face and his arm in a sling.
The Artist: Marisol Escobar
Many artists wanted to create the Father Damien statue. Sixty-six artists applied for the project. Only seven were chosen to make small models of their ideas. Marisol Escobar, a sculptor from New York City, won the competition.
The people choosing the artist liked Escobar's modern design. Other artists had submitted more traditional statues of Father Damien. Escobar's statue was based on a photo of Father Damien near the end of his life. This is why the statue shows him wearing glasses and with his arm in a sling.
Father Damien was a carpenter, so Escobar first made her model out of wood. She then made another model from plaster. This plaster model would be used to create the final bronze statue. However, the plaster model broke while being shipped to the foundry (a place where metal is cast) in Viareggio, Italy.
A second plaster model was also lost during shipping. Finally, Escobar sent a wax mold to the foundry instead. It's interesting to note that another famous Hawaiʻi statue, the Kamehameha Statue, also had shipping problems but was later found.
Father Damien Day
The Father Damien Statue was officially revealed on April 15, 1969. This happened in the United States Capitol Rotunda, a large round room in the Capitol building. A copy of the Kamehameha Statue was also unveiled that day.
Hawaiʻi celebrates Father Damien Day every year on April 15. This day was created by a law passed by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. On this day, the statue in Honolulu is decorated with leis (flower garlands). People also sing songs and offer prayers. In the Catholic Church, Father Damien is considered a special helper for people who feel left out or are sick with diseases like AIDS and HIV.
Other Statues of Father Damien
Besides the statues in Hawaiʻi and Washington, D.C., there are other statues of Father Damien. You can find them in his home country of Belgium. There are statues in the cities of Brussels, Leuven, and Tremelo, which is where he was born.
