On March 18th our fundraising team was delighted to receive a letter From William T Harris the CEO of Space Center Houston concerning the acceptance of a duplicate copy of the Neil Armstrong sculpture that we are creating for Russia. We reported about this in a March March 25th press release. We are so excited about this collaboration.
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon moves from Wonderland to Space.
From the sculptor.
It has been a while since this project began. My schedule with the Alice in Wonderland project kept it on hold for a while as well as the fundraising. This year is the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon and we now have hired a fundraiser and are excited to report that we have decided to raise funds for two sculptures. One will go to Russia and one will stay in the Houston area. The location will soon be announced.
Yes, we have seen some things in the news concerning the United States and Russia lately. Please remember, this sculpture is all about being uniting in space. We do hope you will help our cause. We are excited to make this sculpture a priority in my sculpture studio for 2019. We can only do that through the help of others. Here are some examples of our past projects.
John Turner
Grambling Tiger
Alice In Wonderland – Move One Place On
Norma Zenteno
Prairie View Panther.
Post by Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon
It was a delight to be a part of the second Cross-Cultural Network honoring Outstanding Russian Americans. Sophya Tabarovski is a go getter. I remember her saying how big the Russian community is and that she would like to bring more attention to it, and in doing so hopefully help the Neil Armstrong, United In Space project. Last night I attended the second honoree dinner, and I was delighted to listen to the music, see the dances and hear about the accomplishments of the individuals.
I’m excited about getting started on this project and hope that we will now go full force in raising the money needed for the bronze sculpture of Neil Armstrong to go to his long awaited home in Russia.
Since the last meeting of the committee of the Neil Armstrong sculpture they have decided to change the design. Instead of a flight suit we are looking at a space suit. This leaves me with the task of trying to find a model and a space suit. I need to take reference pictures. Anyone have any connections to help me do this?
Love the swag of this pose. This is what I would like, though I’m tempted to still put the thumbs up on the right hand.
Just incase you missed this incredible event the entire dedication program was recorded. This dedication has been uploaded to YouTube and can be found in 3 segments.
The Dedication Program is as follows
Tom Koch
Anchor, KTRK-TV
Ekaterina Gorlova
High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Houston Gand Opera Children’s Chorus and Soloist
“Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii,”
National Anthem of the Russian Federation
David Roorda
Lamar Consolidated, HGOco High School Voice Stduio Student
“Star Spangled Banner”.
National Anthem of the United Staes of America
The Honorable Annise Parker
Mayor, City of Houston
His Excellency Sergey I. Kislyak
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States
The Honorable Charles F. Bolden Jr.
Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Dr.Oleg V. Kotov
Russian Air Force Colonel & Cosmonaut
Now, onward to raising the funds and creating the sculpture that America will send to Russia. You can help. Please see our donation page.
The sculpture of Gagarin is installed and ready for the dedication. The panel featuring John Glenn is placed next to the sculpture.
On October 15th 2012 there was a dedication at 2999 South Wayside Drive, the Gragg building, NASA’s First Houston Headquarters. The dedication was honoring the first two space explorers to orbit the earth, Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin and Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr.
Father Lubomir Kupecz of St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church, Houston, blesses the artwork.
A sculpture of Yuri Gagarin, arms outstretched to embrace the vastness of space, and a panel of John Glenn were donated by Ruslan Bayramov president of International Charity Public Fund Dialogue of Cultures- United World. A gift from Russian to America.
After the park dedication there was a private reception at the Museum of Natural Science.
Now Americans will give-in kind a sculpture of Neil Armstrong to Russia.
Ms. Galina Gagarina and Mr. Yuri Gagarin daughter and grandson of cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin pose with the sculptor chosen to create the Neil Armstrong sculpture for Russia – Bridgette Mongeon
Ribbon cutting
An evening ceremony is held at the Museum of Natural Science
We are hand delivering these tonight at the reception for the Gagarin sculpture in Houston. We hope to begin to create an interest in this part of the project.
Planting trees to celebrate American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts.
The final resting place of the sculpture of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and panel featuring astronaut John Glenn.
The sculpture of Yuri Gagarin and the panel of John Glenn is being installed. Everything is prepared for the great unveiling scheduled for October 15, 2012. . The final resting place for the celebration of these astronauts is outside the former NASA building at 2999 South Wayside in Houston, Texas.
Dialogue of Cultures – United World, donated the art
Workers prepare to mount the bronze sculpture to a base
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was the first man to orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961. This sculpture was created to honor the cosmonaut. This sculpture has been placed in Russia and a duplicate has been made for The United States.
Sculpture of Yuri Gagarin
STUDENTS
Ask your relatives, do they remember when Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong made these milestones of accomplishments?
Why do they think these accomplishments were so important? Feel free to log in on this blog and let us know what you think.
