The Center for Active Seniors Inc. will host a display of African American statues from the collection of James and Karen Collins and a Lunch & Learn Conversation with James Collins on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at CASI.
The statues will be on display at 10:30 a.m. It will be followed by a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at CASI’s Davenport center at 1035 W. Kimberly Road. Registration is required for lunch by Wednesday, Oct. 16. They can be made at CASI’s front desk or by calling (563) 386-7477.
In 1985, folk artist Martha Holcombe-Root, kindly known as Miss Martha, sculpted her first African American hero figurine. This was the start of her collection called All God’s Children. Over the years there have been more than 35 figurines representing the outstanding men and women in African American history.
James Collins began collecting the historical African American figurines in the late 1980s because of his passion for history and civil rights. His favorite piece is of Dr. George Washington Carver. It exemplifies Dr. Carver’s success story of being born a slave in America to becoming one of the world’s most renowned scientists and botanists.
