“So the concept is one giant opening Rose, in light pink on the outside. It is meant to be a multi -purposeful space viewed from outside and inside, walking between the petals and from above. It will also be a viewing point, you can climb up to the top and look out onto the Mall from 30 to 40 ft up. The outer petals will be the silhouettes of Women's Rights and Suffrage leaders such as, Susan B Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton... One giant Rose pulling all the different Women's rights movements together... inside will be a vast room with staircases/ramp leading upward to the Future. Hopefully a glass elevator, too with a number 19 on the top so that when it comes out at the top of the Monument it will be in the middle of the Rose and show the 19th Amendment pushing through. Starting in the Past; the fight the struggle, in mosaics on the walls telling the story leading to the 19th Amendment. Important events and people will be Illustrated. Then a stained glass ceiling from below and floor from above. We will walk on it for we are all now the ones who the 19th Amendment lifted up. It will have the number 19 surrounded by butterfly images with the word Hope, and quotes from famous women pre 19th Amendment, written in their wings. As light shines down through the stained glass the floor will show the images of the butterflies and the inspiring words because that's what the early women had, Hope as they searched for Equality Respect and Peace... then came the time after the 19th Amendment and the continued struggle against the political parties finding ways to restrict women's voices. Again another glass ceiling with the next phase of voting equality showing again butterflies with the words Hope and Respect and other famous quotes until we get to the 1965 Voting Rights Act moment where we pass through that glass ceiling to walk on it, in the next stage the present. Still telling in mosaics the next stories of the struggles and the joys on the walls as we walk higher up the ramps... till we get to the top and look out to the Future along the outer ramp is the story of the future, it's the story of all the people who sent ideas in for this Monument, as you walk through you will find your contribution to the concept. Again in mosaics on the outside pedals, but they're inside facing side, if that makes sense, of the Monument. Attribute to all who care about the the past, the present and the future. It's outside you will see the Silhouettes against the surrounding scenery of the influential women who got us to this point in time. As you walk down their shadow will also fall on you at some time during your walk back down to mother earth. We cannot do it alone and we are part of each other helping guiding influencing... there should be a unisex bathroom and at least one handicap bathroom there should be a water fountain that is running for all to drink from and it would be wonderful if we could have fruit trees apple and cherry and plants that attract butterflies. There should be many benches around the whole base and inside too for women who need to breastfeed or just to take a break from the weather. There will probably need to be someone on duty for the elevator and for the upper level and maybe somebody needs to keep an eye on the bathroom situation to make sure it's clean and use your friendly also of course a diaper changing station... but most importantly is shelter from any storms it should create a lot of shade as well.. the elevator should run certainly from dawn to dusk and then maybe once a month it's open till midnight for night time viewing. The elevator will be enclosed in a tube with also stained glass again with butterflies that will start out with hope, then respect and then finally peace at the top... the whole thing should be stroller friendly which also means wheelchair friendly. Finally the very top is Hillary Clinton's quote, "Human Rights are Women's Rights and Women's Rights are Human Rights!" That should go around the upper balcony and also in the stained glass of the elevator tube. Then as you look at the Rose from the outside from ground level the portraits of women and girls who have contributed in some way to this Monument their images will glisten in the shine from the paint used to apply their image onto the outer wall. The color will be the same as the flower itself but because it will be glossy we will be able to see the face see the image... using the contrast between the actual texture of the flower and the gloss outline of the face... if that makes sense. Because our struggle is not done I want to be as inclusive and include as many women into this work as we can. Thank you for your consideration.”
Susan B Anthony stating, " Failure is Impossible!" Sojourner Truth stating, " Ain't I a Woman!" Hillary Clinton stating, " Human Rights are Women's Rights, and Women's Rights are Human Rights!"
Named after Susan B Anthony along with all the other Susans, who are plus minus 60 years old and Born in the USA.
Artists who inspires me.
Niki de St. Phalle and her mosaic sculptures, especially in her Tarot Garden in Italy.
Yoko Ono is also an artist who I've only discovered recently but who's inspirational works inspires me.
Madonna, the singer/artist her words, energy and focus is simply feminine excellence.
Fierce, feminine and US Citizens!
Inspired by the women who have come before me... it's been a long journey for all of us and our work is not done but we're on the right path.
You’re invited to inspire America’s newest landmark. We want to hear from YOU! Contribute your ideas today and have a voice in the design of the Women's Suffrage National Monument.
