Remembering, Dr. Burke!

Celebrating Women's History Month with memories of this pretty lady! Flashback 1995! This photo was taken the day I met Sculptor, Dr. Selma Hortense Burke at the Spring School of the Arts in West Philadelphia. I was a new art teacher at the time and was so honored to meet this artist trail-blazer! Dr. Burke and I spent a three-hour lunch together, discussing her work and the Selma Burke Art Centers in NYC and Pittsburgh. Dr. Burke was still creating at age 94! That day, Dr. Burke had also invited me to bring some of my art to her studio; she showed much interests in wanting to mentor me as a young artist. Unfortunately, a few months later, Dr. Burke passed away, just before I could visit her studio. In memory of her legacy, I've dedicated many exhibits to her and any chance I get, I pass on a bit of history about this artist-pioneer. We can witness Dr. Selma Burke's vision in our daily lives as she has received national recognition for her (1944) relief, profile portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which is the model for his image on our American Dime.