When it came to creating a statue of forever president Barack Obama for South Dakota’s City of Presidents project, sculptor James Van Nuys knew a touch of Black girl magic would make it a masterpiece.
The life-size sculpture which immortalizes Obama holding Sasha Obama’s hand on the night of his first election, was unveiled on Saturday.
Bronze Statue Of Former President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha On July 13, 2019 In Rapid City, South Dakota. A Beautiful Honor To The First Class! #Obama pic.twitter.com/QJ53gRQ1zO
— Maria Schell-Cannon (@schell50) July 14, 2019
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KOTA reports that out of all the photos Nuys had to choose from, the one of Obama and his youngest daughter walking on stage at Chicago’s Grant Park, inspired him the most.
“I did like the photo that I saw of Obama walking on the stage in his first inaugural with his daughter, and I just thought that it was a nice feel-good kind of piece,” Van Nuys told KOTA.
Nuys says the statue took him 500 hours to complete over the course of two years.
It will reside on the corner of 4th and St. Josephs Street as a symbol of excellence and Black girl magic to all who view it!