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Augusta Savage

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description Augusta Savage Overview

Augusta Savage (1892-1963) was an African American sculptor renowned for her large-scale public works, most notably *Lift Every Voice*, a bronze sculpture depicting the struggles and aspirations of Black Americans during the Civil Rights era.

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What is Augusta Savage's Lift Every Voice and Sing?

Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as The Harp, was Augusta Savage's 16-foot sculpture for the 1939 New York World's Fair. It represented a group of singers arranged in a harp-like form inspired by the song by James Weldon and Rosamond Johnson.

Was Lift Every Voice and Sing made of bronze?

No. The original was a painted plaster sculpture, and the Smithsonian records that Savage could not afford to have it cast in bronze.

What happened to Augusta Savage's Lift Every Voice and Sing after the World's Fair?

The sculpture was destroyed when the fair ended because it could not be moved or stored. Photographs, postcards, and small metal souvenir versions are among the surviving records of the work.

Why is Lift Every Voice and Sing important in Augusta Savage's career?

It was one of Savage's most ambitious public works and was the most popular and photographed sculpture at the 1939 fair. The work connected African American musical heritage with a monumental public sculpture.

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