Tar Heel P rofile
By Herbert L. While
Unsung Sculptor
Renowned artist and Mooresville native Selma Burke has
played a big part in the financial lives of every American
— whether they know it or not.
Selma Burke's link to posterity came
in 1943 when she beat out 1 1 other
sculptors with her interpretation of
President Franklin Roosevelt.
That bust is now part of everyday
American life. In fact, millions of people
are walking around with one in their
pocket.
It's called the dime.
That rendition of FDR and other
Burke sculptures are on display in majoi
American museums, parks and public
facilities.
She has come a long way. this daughter
of freed slaves, and site's working to help
others appreciate art's ability to lilt and
enlighten society.
Burke, now 94 years old. always knew
she would Ik* a sculptor. As a girl growing
up in Mooresville. she fashioned animal
figures out of Iredell County's red clay, a
substance that was readily available and
easy to manipulate. Burke's family latci
moved to Matthews Station (now
Matthews), a suburb of Charlotte in
southeast Mecklenburg County, where
her love of art took a Ixick seat to eco¬
nomic reality. At the urging of her moth¬
er. Mary Elizabeth Burke. Selma Burke
went into health care, becoming
Mecklenburg County’s first African-
American nurse in 1924. Somehow, she
knew nursing wasn’t in her future.
"I wanted to sculpt, and I wanted a job
dial paid more money," she recalls. "I
didn’t want to Ik limited to cleaning ver¬
micelli. I wanted to do more than I was
doing."
Relocating to New York, Burke worked
as a private nurse and was introduced to
the city's cultural elite, which stoked her
attistic fires. She won a scholarship to
Columbia University and traveled to
Europe, where she studied under mastei
sculptors such as Matisse. Maillol and
Povilney.
"Dr. Burke is a living legend among
us," says Kimberly Harris, coowner of
Лево
In CjIiui FngUMin
Selma Burke
Sistah's Art Gallerv in Charlotte, where*
Burke's works have lx*en on display. “As
long as we mention Romarc Bearden (a
famous paintei who was born in
Charlotte), we should also mention Di.
Burke."
Burke has done pretty well in her sec¬
ond career. I let works, such as "Medea."
a black cherry wood interpi elation ol a
female torso completed in 1957. are
internationally revered. Burke’s art also
has everyday implications, such as the
profile ol Roosevelt that adoi ns the dime
or her statue ol Nlanin Luther King that
sits in Charlotte's downtown Marshall
Park.
Before Burke could make a name foi
herself, she* had to convince her mother,
who felt there was no future in becoming
a starving artist. I let father. Neal Burke,
who served the Confederate cause in the
Civil War. saw |mtential in Selma, the sev¬
enth of 10 children.
"My mother insisted her 10 children
Pie Statc/Auguvi 1995
33
have professions." Selma Burke says. "She
wanted us to lx* doctors and lawyers and
teachers anti lx*auticians. and I wanted to
Ik* an artist, and my fathei wanted me to
lx* an artist. I le saw that I had talent."
Burke is doing more than sculpturing
these «lays. She works with the Sculptor’s
Guild she founded in Bucks County.
Pennsylvania, as well as the Selma Burke
School of Sculpture in New York < lity and
the Selma Burke Art (enter in
Pittsburgh. She’s also designing a half-
dollar commemorating tin* achieve¬
ments of civil rights legend Rosa Parks
and writing her autobiography. There's
plenty to write about.
“I've got 12 volumes sitting on the
shelf," she says. "I'm wailing to get pub¬
lished. I'm waiting to get the right deal."
Burke likes to lend her experiences to
children, who she says need to be taught
about their heritage and encouraged to
pursue their interests. Without a sense of
the past, she says, it will Ik* more difficult
foi them to realize their potential.
"I'm hoping to share in the simplest
form I can to increase their knowledge of
what is around them." she says. “I started
in Matthews when it was Matthews
Station in the creek modeling clay.
(Children) have advantages today to do
in a classroom what I was doing without
instruction."
Even with .ill of her accomplishments,
Burke says she lives with the feeling of
iK'ing somewhat unappreciated, especial¬
ly by African-Americans. Art is more
deserving of public appreciation, she says.
"It makes me feel like there's so much
narrow-mindedness among us that we're
not able to share what we have with each
other." she savs. "It shows that there's
some blockage or something where* we
don't share, we don't care enough; we're
too scared that somebody else* will come
in and take the credit."
That won't lx* a problem with Burke.
I larris savs. Even at this stage in her life,
she's sharing her skills and experiences
with others, especially children. That
may lx* hei greatest legacy.
'just being in her presence. I’m learn¬
ing history straight from the source."
I larris savs. “And you can't lx*at that."
f
W'llnm/glnn until V
/
Inbnt
/..
White is n
freelance uniter fnnn Charlotte and editor oj
the Charlotte Post.
