This 20-foot-long life size bronze sculpture represents lunch counters in Wichita (and across the country) that served white people only. It sits at the site of the former Woolworth store which was one of the offending establishments, but likely commemorates the sit-in by black college students at the nearby Dockum Drug Store in 1958, a peaceful protest for three weeks that resulted in the owner of the store saying, "Serve them - I'm losing too much money!" Of course it came down to money, but it was a small victory in the fight for integration.
Artist - Georgia Gerber
Nearly all of Georgia Gerber's work is produced at her own foundry, utilizing the lost wax casting method. She learned the foundry process during her college years at both the Bucknell University and University of Washington Art Foundries. See how she created the people sitting at the counter (left) and read all about the process of bronzing HERE."I like my sculpture to invite an interaction with its audience. This is often meant to be a direct physical interaction, but always I strive to engage the viewer's imagination. I tend to present an incomplete visual narrative; a story is suggested, a feeling evoked, and the viewers find themselves providing details." ~Georgia Gerber
