This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: June 11, 2008 - Harriet Hosmer was an artist who had to fight for the right to learn her craft. She was able to attend medical school and learn anatomy only because of the intervention of St. Louisan Wayman Crow.
On Friday evening,; Julie Dunn-Morton, the curator of the fine art collection for the Mercantile Library will welcome all who would like to see Hosmer's Beatrice Cenci and enjoy Elizabeth Pickard's show, "Zenobia Unchained: The Life and Times of Harriet Hosmer." The library is on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Saturday morning. a symposium will include such topics as "The White Marmorean Flock: 19th Century American Women Neoclassical Sculptors," "Harriet Hosmer in St. Louis: Body and Soul," "The curse of Beauty: Images of Women in the Sculpture of Harriet Hosmer" and "Bronze and Stone: Process and Preseration of Hosmer's Legacy." The sessions, which run from 9 a.m to approximately 1 p.m., will be held in the Steinberg Hall Auditorium of the Mildren Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University.
Saturday afternoon from 4:30-6 p.m., join in the celebration of Flag Day and the anniversary of the dedication of the statue of Thomas Hart Benton in Lafayette Park. Patriotic music and Plein Aire artists will add to the festivities.
Saturday evening, Benton Place, also in Lafayette Square, will host a celebration complete with mansion tours, music, food and auction. This is a fundraiser to help restore and conserve the Benton statue.