For Immediate
Release: July 8, 2004
Audio Clip
Portrait of Nationally Acclaimed Folk Singer To Be Dedicated
At State Capitol
Senator Charles
Ford announced the upcoming presentation of a portrait
of singer, songwriter, and author Woody Guthrie, commissioned
by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund,
Inc. The portrait by veteran painter Charles Banks Wilson
will be unveiled Thursday July 15th at 12:00 p.m. in the
Capitol rotunda.
“Woody Guthrie dedicated his life to writing folk
songs and intertwined his musical talent with his political
ideology. For this some have criticized Guthrie and his
family, but nonetheless the native Oklahoman has provided
our state and our nation with a hundreds of songs that have
been passed down through many generations,” said Senator
Ford, President of the Senate Historical Preservation Fund,
Inc.
Woody Guthrie passed away on October 3, 1967 after his fight
with Huntington’s Disease. The disease is an inherited,
degenerative brain disorder that results in progressive
loss of control of the mind and body. Artist Charles Banks
Wilson, 86, has stated that he will hand over his artist’s
commission to the Huntington’s Disease Society of
America at the unveiling ceremony at the Capitol.
The portrait is sponsored by Oklahoma’s largest weekly
and third largest newspaper, the Oklahoma Gazette. The paper
ran a feature piece on Woody Guthrie several weeks ago and
has spearheaded a fundraising drive to raise the funds to
cover the costs of the artist’s commission, framing
and hanging of the portrait of Woody Guthrie.
“I am very proud to be a part of this
historical dedication,” stated Ford. “So many
Oklahomans have donated to this cause and the generosity
of Charles Banks Wilson to the Huntington’s Disease
Society is a wonderful honor to Guthrie’s life.”
A family delegation is expected to attend and artists from
the Woody Guthrie Festival will be performing at the dedication.
This and other art commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate
Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. can be found on the Internet
at: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/senate/welcome.html.
For
more information contact:
Senate Communications Office -
(405) 521-5774
