Augusta Savage: Harp Restoration
As part of our DVD outreach, a spirited effort to rebuild Augusta Savage’s famous sculpture “The Harp” has emerged in tribute to the artist’s life and work. The story of Savage and her work is shown in the film and detailed in the bonus feature “Augusta Savage.”
About Augusta Savage
A Rosenwald Fund recipient, Savage created her famous sculpture known as The Harp, which appeared at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The design was strongly influenced by James Weldon Johnson’s venerable song Lift Every Voice
and Sing. It was the most popular work at the fair, but even after such noted exposure, Savage did not have the means to bring the monumental work back to her studio and it was tragically destroyed. What was a true accomplishment in Savage’s career would result in disaster.
The destruction of Savage’s signature piece has denied America a historically and artistically significant work. Therefore, the Ciesla Foundation is dedicated to restoring the sculpture to the American landscape.
We are researching the prospect of creating full-scale replicas of “The Harp” and securing prominent venues to exhibit the work, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Such a gesture would be a nod to Savage’s work and legacy and restore a dream. Director Aviva Kempner wrote about Savage’s story in the article, “As Confederate Statues Fall, What Should Replace Them?” for The New York Times (11/29/2017). To read the piece, click here.