THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 15, 1995 TAG: 9508150294
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder will give remarks and broadcast his syndicated radio program live from the groundbreaking ceremony this morning for a statue of tennis star Arthur Ashe.
The statue's sculptor, Paul Di Pasquale, and Ashe's stepmother, Lorene Ashe, will scoop a shovelful of earth at 10 a.m. along Monument Avenue in front of a dogwood tree that must be transplanted before the statue goes up.
The dedication is expected to be held next spring or early next summer, Di Pasquale said.
Next month, city officials will decide which way the statue should face. Di Pasquale said he will recommend having Ashe face east, toward the state Capitol.
The sculptor said five men are working full time at a foundry in Waynesboro to complete the monument, which consists of Ashe holding books and a tennis racket with four children reaching up to him.
Ceramic molds have been made of two of the children, and two are still in wax. The Ashe likeness is still in wax. Later, they will be cast in bronze.
The fund for the statue is more than halfway to its goal of $400,000, Di Pasquale said.
Meanwhile, an impromptu group called the Council of Conservative Citizens has circulated a flier urging followers to ``march with Confederate flags back and forth in front of the cameras'' during the groundbreaking.
The group's newsletter also urges, ``No racial slurs please.''
Plans for the Ashe statue created controversy because of its location on Monument Avenue, a street lined with memorials to Confederate war heroes.
Di Pasquale said he had no objection to the possible protest.
``By coming, they're going to hear the words of Arthur Ashe. They need to know who he is and what he stood for,'' Di Pasquale said. ``That's what this is all about. The difference of opinion has resulted in common ground.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Mark Mitchell
Sculptor Paul Di Pasquale with the Arthur Ashe likeness that will be
cast in bronze for the monument in Richmond. The sculptor said five
men are working full time at a foundry in Waynesboro to complete the
monument. The dedication is expected to be held next spring or early
next summer, Di Pasquale said.
by CNB