World War I tribute designed by UA grad over another hurdle

By Frank E. Lockwood
via the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette web site

The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission -- once it receives the necessary approvals from other agencies -- aims to break ground on a new national memorial on Nov. 11, the 99th anniversary of the armistice that halted the fighting.

View toward the planned commemorative wall of the National World War One Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC.The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal agency that must sign off on memorials in the nation's capital, approved the group's concept proposal at its May meeting.

The National Capital Planning Commission, another agency that oversees planning matters in the capital area, is expected to review the proposal when it meets next month.

Joseph Weishaar, a 2013 graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, won the international design competition in January 2016, beating more than 350 other entries.

Phoebe Lickwar, a professor at the Jones School, is the project's landscape architect. Sabin Howard, a New York City sculptor, will create the bronze wall that will be a focal point of the project.

Thomas Luebke, the Commission of Fine Arts' secretary, said the memorial had cleared a major hurdle, though a lot of work remains.

"Getting the concept approval is a very important milestone in the review process," he said. "They need the final approval in order to actually start construction."

Before that happens, the fine arts agency must sign off on all kinds of details, including the topography, landscaping, lighting of artwork, and signs.

Read the whole article on the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette web site:

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