Among his many works, sculptor Daniel Altshuler has created an inaugural medal of President Obama, busts of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter and a seal of New York City for Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Now, the local artist is working on a bronze plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1912 textile mill strike in Lawrence that came to be known as the Bread and Roses Strike.
Working in clay to create the mold, Altshuler, 46, has depicted workers rushing out of the mills, flowing through the streets of Lawrence holding American flags, with smoke stacks and City Hall in the background.
"The main thrust was to show the action of the people," Altshuler said during a visit to his Gloucester studio. "We don't know the agony and pain they went through, but we have everything to thank for these people."
Altshuler was commissioned by Lawrence's 1912 Strikers' Monument Committee. The strike involved tens of thousands of workers and lasted nine weeks. It was precipitated when their hours were cut from 56 to 54 per week resulting in a 32-cent wage cut.
"When people see it, I hope they walk away with that sense of empowerment of the common man working together across cultural barriers," said David Meehan, cochairman of the 1912 Strikers' Monument Committee along with Jonas Stundzia.
"It is fitting that Lawrence be the location for the installation of a strikers monument, an indicator of American labor history," said Stundzia, chairman of the Lawrence Historic Commission.
The project is costing $150,000 and $55,000 in contributions so far have run the gamut from $25 to $10,000.
The bronze relief will be 40-by-28 inches and will be set on a large natural stone boulder.
"We wanted something to look earthy and strong; to come from nature and to look rough," Meehan said.
The monument will be unveiled in September close to Common Street across from Lawrence City Hall, where marchers stopped during the strike.
To make donations to the 1912 Striker's Monument Committee send checks to Lawrence Community Works/Strikers' Monument, Lawrence Community Works, in care of Lisa Torrisi, 168 Newbury St., Lawrence, MA 01841.
Yadira Betances may contacted at ybetances@gloucestertimes.com.
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