9.26.17: Philadelphia – (Politics): Mr. Branly Cadet, who sculpted the Octavius V. Catto statue which was unveiled on Tuesday in Center City Philadelphia, aims to invoke emotion with his work. To Mr. Cadet, who is trained in the classical tradition of both figurative and portrait sculpture, a teary-eye viewing his art is the “highest compliment” one could pay. When the black cloth on Tuesday morning was removed and the bronze masterpiece was revealed, the highest compliments, an untold amount, were offered to Mr. Cadet from the awed public.
L to R: Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Mr. Branly Cadet, the sculptor of the Octavius Catto statue, hugs upon its unveiling. Photo Credit: C. Norris – ©2017
Philadelphia Sherriff Jewel Williams stood next to me throughout the duration of the ceremony, which took place on the South apron of City Hall and in front of members of Mr. Catto’s family. He had a tear swelling in his right eye when the unveiling occurred. It was Mr. Catto, whom the sheriff first learned about in junior high school, that inspired him to enter politics.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who as a councilman began the movement to bring the Octavius Catto memorial to life, held back his tears of joy, but he was nonetheless visibly emotional. There was a time during the past 15 years, particularly when the Recession hit, that memorializing the 19th Century renaissance man seemed implausible.
“We couldn’t raise the money,” the mayor told me. Seconds later he said: “But everything worked out; I’m so proud of this.”
The statue was shipped from Oakland, California to Philadelphia. On last Saturday morning, spectators gawked as it was taken out of its crate and lowered onto its base by construction workers. Almost until the day it was unveiled, Mr. Cadet, who learned in 2013 that he had been selected to mold the likeness of a legend, said he had been working on the sculpture.
Other than the statue itself, Both Mr. Cadet and Mayor Kenney were the stars of the show. But it was particularly difficult to get to Mr. Cadet, who, before accommodating interviews with the news media, graciously welcomed a seemingly endless line of individuals requesting photos. And an elderly woman in tears received a hug from Mr. Cadet rather than a picture with him.
Mr. Branly Cadet hugs a woman who was moved to tears by his art. Photo Credit: C. Norris – ©2017
It was a surely a celebratory atmosphere outside City Hall on Tuesday. True pride of city was on display, as was genuine curiosity. To the latter, the memorial, which is the first of its kind to a black American on public land in Philadelphia, feeds curiosity and educates the public via an engraved timeline of Mr. Catto’s achievements.
“My hope is that someday every child in Philadelphia, and every child in America, will know as much about Octavius Catto as they do George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Dr. Martin Luther King,” the elated Mayor said.
Thanks for reading! Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® and I’m Drumming for Justice!™
Photos courtesy of the author.