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Ed
Hamilton was born on February 14, 1947 in Cincinnati,
Ohio. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After graduating
in 1969 from the Art Center School in Louisville, Hamilton
found there were few opportunities to sculpt, so he
taught sculpting and ceramics at Iroquois High School.
In
1973, after attending the University of Louisville
and Spalding University in Louisville, well known
sculptor Barney Bright invited then 26 year old Hamilton
to work with him. As he continued working various
jobs to support his family, Hamilton
began his career as a sculptor and realized he could
earn his living through his art.
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1978, with assistance from local supporters, Hamilton
purchased a building and established his first studio.
In 1983, a pivotal breakthrough occurred when he landed
a commission from Hampton University to create a statue
of famous Black educator, Booker T. Washington. His
next major commission was from the City of Detroit to
sculpt a monument honoring heavyweight boxing champion
Joe Louis. Since then, he has worked continuously as
a sculptor.
With
his two most recent works, Hamilton
has established himself as one of the outstanding
Black sculptors in America. In 1995, Hamilton
unveiled his massive Amistad Memorial. Commissioned
by the Amistad Committee in New Haven, Connecticut.
This three-sided bas relief monument tells the story
of the life of Joseph Cinque -- his kidnapping, from
Africa, his famous trial in the U. S., and his victorious
return to his native land. Recently, Hamilton
was chosen from a field of four nationally known sculptors
to create the "Spirit of Freedom: African-American
Civil War Memorial" that was installed in 1998
in Washington, DC, the nation's capitol, at 10th and
"U" Streets, NW The 8'x9' bronze monument
memorializes approximately 200,000 Black soldiers
of the Civil War.
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