Glenside Sculptor Creating Controversial Statue for Tennessee

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Glenside’s Zenos Frudakis is creating a sculpture of famed civil liberties lawyer Clarence Darrow for Dayton, Tennessee, despite opposition. (Image via philly.com)

Glenside sculptor Zenos Frudakis is creating a statue of famed civil liberties lawyer, Clarence Darrow, which will be placed at the site of the famous 1925 “Scopes Monkey Trial” in Tennessee, writes Jason Nark for Philly.com.

During what many called a trial of the century, Darrow defended John T. Scopes who was being prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan for teaching evolution in school. Rhea County Courthouse erected a statue for Bryan twelve years ago. Now, thanks to individual donors, a statue of his opposing council is being created by lifelong fan Frudakis.

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“Darrow’s a voice of reason,” said Frudakis. “With what’s going on right now in national politics, it was really important for me to get this up.”

To make the sculpture as lifelike as possible, Frudakis read extensively about Darrow and the trial. He also filled his two-story Montgomery County studio with photographs of Darrow that covered the key stages of his life.

The sculpture has been approved by the Rhea County officials and several polls indicate while the majority of the public is supportive, some disagree.

“It doesn’t belong here,” said June Griffin, a conservative activist. “Darrow was basically an atheist and in my estimation, a communist too. Tennessee is definitely a God-fearing state, based on the Bible.”

Read more about the sculpture at Philly.com by clicking here.

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