Rapid City, SC, USA — Andrea J Cook reports in the Rapid City Journal:
“A replica of Independence Hall, the birthplace of democracy in Philadelphia, is under construction between Reptile Gardens and Bear Country. Once completed, the attraction — Independence Hall: Home of the Founding Fathers — will house a unique tribute to democracy, according to its developer, Rapid City businessman Don Perdue, and artist James Van Nuys.
“Inside a replica of the historic Georgian-style structure visitors will see a three-dimensional sculptural representation of John Trumbull’s famous painting. The painting depicts the moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress.
“‘I’ve always thought that this community and the general community of the Black Hills is not really getting the full benefit of Mount Rushmore,’ said Perdue said, who was the inspiration behind the City of Presidents sculpture project in downtown Rapid City.
“Perdue has commissioned Van Nuys to recreate the painting. They spoke about Perdue’s vision several years ago, but it was only two years ago that Van Nuys started working on a prototype of the sculptures to create a three-dimensional painting.
“‘I decided that the figures needed to go beyond what you see in a wax museum,’ Van Nuys said. As a result, he developed a multi-media approach using fiberglass, plastic, fabric, plumbing fittings, acrylic paint, wood and anything else he could find.”