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The GazetteOctober 26, 2019 | updated 7 years ago
The life-size statue of Fannie Mae Duncan stands outside the Pikes Peak Center, close to where Duncan’s Cotton Club once stood on Cascade Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs. The statue was created by sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy and was project spearheaded by retire middle school English teacher Kay Esmiol whose students wrote a play “Everybody Welcome” about Duncan in 1993. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)
Hundreds pack Studio Bee at the Pikes Peak Center for a dedication ceremony Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, for the new statue of Colorado Springs iconic Fannie Mae Duncan. The statue, created by artist Lori Kiplinger Pandy, now stands outside the Pike Peaks Center, just yards from Duncan’s famous Cotton Club where the catch phase was “Everybody Welcome.” Photos by Christian Murdock
The life-size statue of Fannie Mae Duncan stands outside the Pikes Peak Center, close to where Duncan’s Cotton Club once stood on Cascade Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs. The statue was created by sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy and was project spearheaded by retire middle school English teacher Kay Esmiol whose students wrote a play “Everybody Welcome” about Duncan in 1993. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)A crowd gathers around the statue of Fannie Mae Duncan outside the Pikes Peak Center Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, after a dedication ceremony honoring the sculpture and the life of Duncan who fought for equality among all races during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. “Everybody Welcome” was the catch phase at her club called the Cotton Club. Music lovers of all colors and races would gather at the club where the likes of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Etta James would perform. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Kay Esmiol, who was the leader behind the movement to honor Colorado Springs’ Fannie Mae Duncan with a statue, speaks Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, during a dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center for the life-sized sculpture by artist Lori Kiplinger Pandy. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Kate Pardoni, who produced a documentary about Fannie Mae Duncan for RMPBS, left, and Regina Lewis, a professor at Pike Peak Community College, hug during the dedication ceremony Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at the Pikes Peak Center for the statue honoring Duncan who owned the Cotton Club with the catch phase “Everybody Welcome” during the 1950s and 60s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)The forty-plus family members of Fannie Mae Duncan enter Studio Bee for the dedication ceremony Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, for the new statue of Duncan. The life-size statue stands on the crosswalk outside the Pikes Peak Center on Cascade Avenue, just down the street from where Duncan’s Cotton Club stood. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy stands between Kate Perdoni, who produced a documentary on Fannie Mae Duncan, and Longinos Gonzalez, Jr., vice chairman of the El Paso County Commissioners, for the National Anthem Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, during a dedication ceremony for Pandy’s statue of Duncan. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Kay Esmiol, who was the leader behind the movement to honor Colorado Springs’ Fannie Mae Duncan with a statue, listens to speakers Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, during a dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center for the life-sized sculpture by artist Lori Kiplinger Pandy. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Pikes Peak Community College professor Regina Lewis speaks during the dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, for the new statue of Fannie Mae Duncan outside the center. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Members of the USAFA Cadet, Protestant Gospel Choir and the Colorado Springs Community Choir sing “America the Beautiful” during the dedication ceremony for the new statue of Fannie Mae Duncan Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at the Pikes Peak Center. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Pikes Peak Community College professor Regina Lewis speaks to a packed house during the dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, for the new statue of Fannie Mae Duncan outside the center. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Kay Esmiol, right, who spearheaded the effort to create a statue honoring Fannie Mae Duncan, hugs Duncan’s niece Claudean Braggs-Brooks after she spoke during a dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, honoring her aunt and the statue that now stands outside the center. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Gwen Howard, who was sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy’s model for the Fannie Mae Duncan sculpture, poses for a picture next to it Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, after the dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center. Howard spent 24 to 30 hours modeling for the sculpture in various clothing. “It was an amazing honor,” Howard said. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Gwen Howard, who was sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy’s model for the Fannie Mae Duncan sculpture, poses for a picture next to it Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, after the dedication ceremony at the Pikes Peak Center. Howard spent 24 to 30 hours modeling for the sculpture in various clothing. “It was an amazing honor,” Howard said. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)A crowd gathers around the statue of Fannie Mae Duncan outside the Pikes Peak Center Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, after a dedication ceremony honoring the sculpture and the life of Duncan who faught for equality among all races during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. “Everybody Welcome” was the catch phase at her club called the Cotton Club. Music lovers of all colors and races would gather at the club where the likes of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Etta James would perform. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)A crew from Art Castings of Colorado install the statue of Fannie Mae Duncan in front of the Pikes Peak Center Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. A ceremony and music festival honoring the the owner of the famed Cotton Club, whose club slogan was “Everyone Welcome,” will be held 10 a.m. Saturday. Fort Collins sculptor Lori Kiplinger Pandy was commissioned to create the work and the project was spearheaded by retired teacher and author Kay Esmiol. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)Kay Esmiols, left, the force behind the project, and artist Lori Kiplinger Pandy, who created the sculpture of Colorado Springs’ Fannie Mae Duncan, watch as it is set into place Friday, Oct. 25,2019, outside the Pikes Peak Center, close to Duncan’s inconic Cotton Club in downtown Colorado Springs where “everybody was welcome,” regardless of color or race. The tribute to Duncan will be dedicated Saturday at the center with live music and a ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK/THE GAZETTE)
