Save H M STANLEY STATUE IN DENBIGH
Save H M STANLEY STATUE IN DENBIGH
The Issue
In response to the disturbing news that some people feel the statue of H M Stanley should be destroyed could you please sign this petition supporting the preservation of H M Stanley's Statue in Denbigh..
It was unveiled in 17th March 2011 celebrating the success of a local Denbigh boy made good. It was ascertained from historians that far from being a colonialist and racist Stanley worked to protect the Congolese from the cruelty of his employer Leopard the King of Belgium. At that time the word Racism was not even invented and to judge a person from that time comparing it with our era is wrong. Far from being held in loathing and hatred in the Congo. a delegation was sent over to the Official unveiling of the Statue to show their love and appreciation for all he did for them, This can clearly be seen from the BBC news report still on YouTube (https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=5E0Q2-AfnHY#dialog
This is a magnificent work of art by a talented artist working in North Wales, Nick Elphick, who, one can clearly see, put his heart and soul into creating it..Stanley's statue was deliberately placed at ground level and not elevated on a plinth as the Sculptor wanted to show him as welcoming people on common ground. He rightly wanted to portray him as a man of the people. The work expresses HOPE for people through Stanley's life story overcoming poverty and succeeding in life (Stanley was brought up in a workhouse). This statue conveys ia message of aspiration and possibilities to people today who might be homeless and jobless.
This is a work of dedication to the history of mankind and the beauty and importance of Art. It not just be about Stanley as a person but a beautiful piece of Sculpture that has gone into a place where the town can to be proud of it. For it now to be destroyed or thrown away must be very hurtful to the artist and to those who love it as so much emotion and personal life experience can be seen in it, . Sculpture should reflect local as well as national history and encourage dynamic debates. To destroy works of art is akin to the burning of books and senseless acts.of vandalism when it is vital that history is not hidden away but debated and learnt from.
693
The Issue
In response to the disturbing news that some people feel the statue of H M Stanley should be destroyed could you please sign this petition supporting the preservation of H M Stanley's Statue in Denbigh..
It was unveiled in 17th March 2011 celebrating the success of a local Denbigh boy made good. It was ascertained from historians that far from being a colonialist and racist Stanley worked to protect the Congolese from the cruelty of his employer Leopard the King of Belgium. At that time the word Racism was not even invented and to judge a person from that time comparing it with our era is wrong. Far from being held in loathing and hatred in the Congo. a delegation was sent over to the Official unveiling of the Statue to show their love and appreciation for all he did for them, This can clearly be seen from the BBC news report still on YouTube (https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=5E0Q2-AfnHY#dialog
This is a magnificent work of art by a talented artist working in North Wales, Nick Elphick, who, one can clearly see, put his heart and soul into creating it..Stanley's statue was deliberately placed at ground level and not elevated on a plinth as the Sculptor wanted to show him as welcoming people on common ground. He rightly wanted to portray him as a man of the people. The work expresses HOPE for people through Stanley's life story overcoming poverty and succeeding in life (Stanley was brought up in a workhouse). This statue conveys ia message of aspiration and possibilities to people today who might be homeless and jobless.
This is a work of dedication to the history of mankind and the beauty and importance of Art. It not just be about Stanley as a person but a beautiful piece of Sculpture that has gone into a place where the town can to be proud of it. For it now to be destroyed or thrown away must be very hurtful to the artist and to those who love it as so much emotion and personal life experience can be seen in it, . Sculpture should reflect local as well as national history and encourage dynamic debates. To destroy works of art is akin to the burning of books and senseless acts.of vandalism when it is vital that history is not hidden away but debated and learnt from.
693
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 12 June 2020