Roger Franklin: Boynton Beach Library appreciates his sculpture (slideshow)

A couple of years ago, the city of Boynton Beach was looking for a piece of art to honor the Library Director, Virginia Kapes Farace, who was retiring after 36 years of service (1970 – 2006), and a bronze sculpture by Roger Franklin was chosen. The sculpture of a young girl reading, entitled "Jennifer’s Poetree,” is now on display in the lobby of the new library at 208 South Seacrest Blvd.

Jennifer Sokolow, Roger’s granddaughter, who was thirteen at the time, was the inspiration for the sculpture, and coincidentally she had written a poem about librarians. When Roger learned that his work was selected for the library, he had a plaque made up of Jennifer’s poem and put on the pedestal. It reads:

Every book has a story to tell
And within the library they all dwell
The doorway to the written word
In a place where whispers must go unheard.

The book’s gatekeeper is the librarian
Who enforces rules as a disciplinarian
She asks for quiet and keeps the peace
But her love for children will never cease.

It is important for kids to read
To learn the things that we all need
So let your imagination and thoughts be shook
As you turn the pages of a book!

It turns out Ms. Farace wrote poetry herself as a young girl, so she was particularly touched by his sculpture.

Roger, who was recently juried into The Artist’s Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art , moved to Florida full-time just over a year ago after spending fifty years as President of a New York advertising agency. “I have no formal training but come from a long line of artists…my great grandmother was the first graduate of Cooper Union College in 1868. After dabbling in oils, I started sculpting three years ago. I love three dimensional art and work in clay and then convert my sculptures to bronze.”

Several of his sculptures are being shown at Rick Beau Lieu’s Neighborhood Gallery in Boynton Beach, and he presently has four bronzes on display in The Artists' Guild Gallery. “I strive to capture innovative ideas that show human feelings and love...most of my sculptures have to do with children.” His sculpture “Loving Hands” was selected for a Guild’s people’s choice award. Please enjoy the slideshow below of his important work.

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***© 2010 all rights reserved Maxine Schreiber. The above articles may not be rewritten, copied, published, broadcast, or redistributed, wholly or in any part, without the express written permission of Maxine Schreiber.