GENERAL TADEUSZ KOSCIUSZKO Monument

Truly a tale of ‘the little town that could,’ the city of Kosciusko set out to renovate a downtown park and erect a monument to the town’s namesake, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko.  In seeking support for the project, they were told by the Mississippi Arts Commission that the project was ‘undoable,’ and that the MAC would not support or help with the project in any way.  Undeterred, project coordinator and local physician Dr. Stanley Hartness enlisted the support of the local community and the international Polish community to erect a monument to this hero of two nations. 

The town crowded to the triumphant unveiling of the monument in 2006 with pomp and circumstance, complete with the high school band playing and remarks from the mayor Jimmy Cockroft and a representative from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Colonel Andre Sayles.

From the United States Military Academy at West Point to the Kosciuszko House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and other sites, Tracy researched this commission in depth.  Having obtained copies of every extant portrait painted during Kosciuszko’s lifetime, Tracy faithfully reproduced details she unearthed from the archives and book stacks of libraries and museums.  Kosciuszko’s sword was located in the labyrinthine museum at West Point, and dusty tomes in Washington, DC contained images of his medals.  Every detail down to the buttons on his coat were accurately sculpted.
Tracy building up the armature with expanded metal as a base for the clay.
Robert working on the armature.
Finishing out details on the sculpture in the original clay.
Even the children helped sculpt!
Dr. Stanley Hartness and Tracy with the finished clay sculpture of Kosciuszko.
After sculpting, a rubber mold is applied to exactly capture every detail of the sculpture.
When the rubber mold is completed, a rigid mold of plaster is applied to the outside.
Working with fast-setting plaster in the Mississippi heat is a challenge!
Plaster is mixed in batches and applied with hemp to strengthen the mold.  Here the boys are helping to mix up the plaster.
After the molds are complete, wax copies are made from each of the mold sections.  All the children enjoyed playing with the wax!
At the unveiling in October, 2006, the town turned out in force to witness the event.
We had the extreme honor of working with Brigadier General Andre Sayles and getting to know him.  An absolute prince of a man, then-Colonel Sayles contributed his personal time to the project.  His story and life work are inspiring and compelling.
Tracy with the West Point alumni.
Tracy and Robert standing with the result of their hard work.