Unveiling a Gift for the Ages: John Wilson Etching of Dr. Martin Luther King
M
ilton Academy’s recently mounted etching of Martin Luther King is expressive, complex, intense and striking. The drawing of Dr. King is the work of artist John Wilson, born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1922. Mr. Wilson was selected in 1985 as the winning artist in a national contest to sculpt a bust of Martin Luther King for the U.S. Capitol Building. Mr. Wilson’s drawing—a study for the sculpture—was recalled by its original lending institution from a traveling exhibition sponsored by the Smithsonian celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and message. Artist, printmaker and Milton parent Jim Stroud suggested to Mr. Wilson that together they immortalize his drawing by rendering it as a copperplate etching. The marriage of drawing and copperplate was a challenging one. The two worked for months and developed successive, but less than satisfactory, results before the final image. In fact, 20 state proofs pulled from the copper-
plate witnessing the painstaking effort are now owned by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Jim Stroud and Janine Wong, parents of Ryder Stroud ’09, made the decision last month to give the Wilson etching to Milton. Milton was especially fortunate that John Wilson was able to join Jim, Janine, students and faculty as the work on the wall of the Cox Library was unveiled and admired. The renowned painter, sculptor and printmaker John Wilson graduated from Tufts University in 1947 and studied in Paris and Mexico City. He served as professor of art at Boston University from 1964 to 1986. Between 1951 and 1969 he won numerous awards in national exhibitions. His work is in the collections of the DeCordova Museum, the Smith College Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the University of Wisconsin. His most notable work, “Eternal Presence,” is at the Museum of the National Center of AfroAmerican Artists in Boston.
Artist John Wilson with donors and Milton parents Jim Stroud and Janine Wong
Classroom Dedicated to English Faculty Member Jim Connolly
T
he sunlit classroom well known to students and alumni, located in “the new” Warren Hall (formerly in the Link), is now officially dedicated to the teacher at the center of its table: Jim Connolly. Dottie Altman Weber ’60 and Steve Weber, parents of Meredith Weber ’04, made a generous gift to support Milton’s needs, and chose to honor Jim and recognize his work motivating and inspiring students to write, and
write well. Meredith, who began writing intensively at Milton, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and now works with the New Victory Theatre, a nonprofit theater for children and families in New York City.
salute from a valued mentor. Graduates of several decades can (and do) visit and find a past poem. Many of those early poets are novelists, playwrights, journalists, nonfiction writers and fi lmmakers today. Others simply write well and appreciate the power of the written word in their diverse lives every day.
Jim’s classroom walls have long been known as a gallery of poetry. The spreading collage of short works leaves little bare space; the honor of seeing your work on the wall is a thrilling
Jim Connolly, English Department 60
Milton Magazine