Happy 200th Birthday, Uncle Abe

FATHER ABRAHAM ON ALCATRAZ



I would like my Lincoln-On-Alcatraz to look even more elongated than the actual Abraham Lincoln, stretched out of history into myth and fairy tale, impossibly tall.

I would like the skin of this monumental statue to be metal, perforated with large openings so that people ascending or descending internal stairways may look in all directions at the surrounding landscape, city, ocean, bay, bridges, etc.

Two elevators in the center would stop at various landings, with winding stairs throughout the statue connecting the landings. Some people will challenge themselves to climb or descend all the stairs. Most of the interior would be empty space, with nothing on the various landings, unless some food vendors. The ocean wind and fog would blow through the statue.

This Lincoln would require an excellent sculptor to take the stiffness out of the figure I have drawn, or to exaggerate it even more. It would require great engineers: Alcatraz is called The Rock, but is the rock deep and strong enough to anchor such a tall statue? able to withstand the strong winds there?

My Lincoln should not face San Francisco precisely, nor face the Golden Gate Bridge directly, but face in a direction a little south of the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

All right, my fantasy is absurd, and the notion of having a Peace Center on Alcatraz may sound more attractive, but the absurdity is intentional. I want a droll representation of Lincoln -- We've had enough of the historical Lincoln, which is already turning to myth -- So let him be a fantastical creature, a gateway to the imagination, a stick figure Wizard of Oz...

The Lincoln stovepipe hat, of course, must have terraces on the brim and at the top of the hat; an inner observation room when the weather is too fierce; a cafe or restaurant; restrooms; etc.: