South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), ArtsWA, and the Nisqually Tribe today announced SPSCC will host sculptor Haiying Wu as he completes a full-scale statue of Nisqually activist Billy Frank Jr. for Washington, D.C.'s National Statuary Hall.
Wu will begin his work in March 2024, embarking on an estimated four-month project based in SPSCC’s Scene Shop in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts (Building 21, Olympia Campus). The space will be open for the public to observe and participate in Wu’s work.
“My father always encouraged educational opportunities for all and participated on college boards,” said Willie Frank III, son of Billy Frank Jr. and Chairman of the Nisqually Tribe. “Having this in a place where everyone can learn about Nisqually and the art of sculpture is exactly the kind of community he would want.”
After the 9-foot model is completed, it will be cast in bronze before the final statues are installed in Statuary Hall in Washington D.C. and one in the Olympia Capitol in 2025.
Wu’s design was selected for the project in January 2023 from among four finalists by the Statuary Hall Selection Committee. The Committee was particularly drawn to Wu's attention to detail, capturing elements such as Billy Frank Jr.'s warmth, the salmon, and the pose on a log by the river.
“My father will be meeting the eyes of all who enter the U.S. House of Representatives through Statuary Hall,” said Frank. “Billy Frank Jr. on the left, Standing Bear on the right, encouraging and reminding people to do what’s right by salmon and Indian people.”
Representative Debra Lekanoff (D-40th) introduced House Bill 1372 in 2021 to replace the statue of Marcus Whitman in National Statuary Hall with Billy Frank Jr. Washington State's decision to honor Billy Frank Jr. with representation in Statuary Hall reflects his enduring impact on the region's history and culture. A revered Nisqually tribal member, Frank dedicated his life to advocating for tribal treaty rights, influencing landmark legal decisions such as the Boldt Decision. His legacy continues to inspire generations, embodying the resilience and activism of Indigenous communities.
Public hours and information to visit Wu’s workspace at SPSCC will be available soon.
For more information about the Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project, visit arts.wa.gov/billy-frank-jr.
Photo Credit: Nisqually Communications & Media Services