Added: Jan 30, 2012
From: shaatc
Duration: 4:51
My trip to South Dakota-part 2- Crazy Horse Memorial.Koczak's Remembrance Day. Born in Boston of Polish descent, Korczak was orphaned at age one. He grew up in a series of foster homes. As a boy he was badly mistreated, but he learned to work very hard. He also gained heavy construction and other skills helping his foster father. On his own at 16, Korczak took odd jobs to put himself through Rindge Technical School in Cambridge, MA, after which he became an apprentice patternmaker in the shipyards on the rough Boston waterfront. He experimented with woodworking, making beautiful furniture. At age 18, he handcrafted a grandfather's clock from 55 pieces of Santa Domingo mahogany. Although he never took a lesson in art or sculpture, he studied the masters and began creating plaster and clay studies. In 1932 he used a coal chisel to carve his first portrait, a marble tribute to Judge Frederick Pickering Cabot, the famous Boston juvenile judge who had befriended and encouraged the gifted boy and introduced him to the world of fine arts. Moving to West Hartford, Conn., Korczak launched a successful studio career doing commissioned sculpture throughout New England, Boston and New York. His Carrara marble portrait, "PADEREWSKI, Study of an Immortal," won first prize by popular vote at the 1939 New York World's Fair. A childhood dream came true when he was asked to assist Gutzon Borglum at Mount Rushmore during the summer of 1939. Media reports about Korczak's World's Fair prize and work at Rushmore prompted hereditary Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to start writing to the sculptor, appealing to him to create a memorial to American Indians. The two eventually met and even toured potential carving sites. Back in Connecticut, Korczak spent two years carving his 13 1/2-foot Noah Webster Statue as a gift to West Hartford. The work drew national attention but embroiled the community and the sculptor in controversy, foreshadowing what was to come at Crazy Horse. At age 34, he volunteered for service in World War II. He landed on Omaha Beach and, later, was wounded. At war's end he was invited to make government war memorials in Europe. But he had decided to accept the invitation of Chief Standing Bear and other project supporters and to dedicate the rest of his life to Crazy Horse Memorial. Korczak arrived in the Black Hills on May 3, 1947. He worked on the project until his death on October 20, 1982, at age 74. During his nearly 36 years of working on the mountain, he refused to take any salary at Crazy Horse Memorial. He is buried in the tomb that he and his sons blasted from a rock outcropping near where the permanent Indian museum will rise at the foot of the mountain carving. For the tomb door he wrote his own epitaph and cut it from three-quarter-inch steel plate. It reads: KORCZAK Storyteller in Stone May His Remains Be Left Unknown Without Korczak there would be no Crazy Horse Memorial. Its history revolves around his own extraordinary story, which is reflected in his log studio-home, workshop and sculptural galleries at Crazy Horse. His life and work are an inspiration to many, especially to young people. After his death the memorial continued to be built,overseen by Ziolkowski's wife,Ruth and seven of their 10 children. It might be the largest sculpture in the world measuring when completed at 641feet (192m) wide and 563 feet (169m)high. The head of Crazy Horse is 87 feet(26m) high. In comparison, the faces of the US president carved in Mt. Rushmore are 60 feet (18m)high. Ziolkowski with approval from Chief Standing Bear and other Native Americans envisioned not only a monument to Native Americans, but also an educational and cultural center that currently includes the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Cultural Center as well as workshops for Native American. Ziolkowski and his relatives have refused government funding for the non-profit project and instead rely on donations and admissions to the memorial for funding to complete the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Channel: Film
Rating: 4.8095236' max='5' min='1' numRaters='21' rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#overall ( ratings) Views: 1201 Comments: 46
OroyaPeruviana Says:
Jan 31, 2012 - Piękna wyprawa Krysiu. Zazdroszczę Ci wycieczki. Pozdrawiam M*
andreas9249 Says:
Feb 2, 2012 - Super video**********✿-ڰۣڿ✿
hana55100 Says:
Feb 2, 2012 - Piękna sprawa -znów wielki Polak ze Świata dał o sobie znać....Jest jeszcze wielu polaków co sa sławni w Świecie tylko nie u nas w Polsce.Widziałam ta rzeźbę i krótki film w wiadomościach jakiś czas temu u nas w tv.Wiesz ....ciesze sie że to Polak ....bo my ...jesteśmy wyjątkowi ...no powiedz Krysiu -czy inny naród potrafiłby sobie poradzić we wszystkich miejscach Świata tak jak Polacy...chyba nie ..:))serdecznie pozdrawiam..:))
sunnuz7 Says:
Feb 3, 2012 - Hi Chris, Thanks for all the information and video tribute to the Crazy Horse monument. I had no idea such a monument existed so I thank you for the remarkable history lesson. May the monument be a living legacy of the fortitude of the American Indian and the tenacity of Polish Americans. With great pride, respect, and admiration...hugs ~Gil
Watchyou2008 Says:
Feb 3, 2012 - Wonderful! Dear Chris, it must a great trip to you,right? How Beautiful Scenery, absolutely so great, love to watching your videos,have a nice day my friend
piero27761 Says:
Feb 4, 2012 - "When I die you painting me all of red, and then you cast me into the river so I will return. If you do not so this I will return the same, but as stone." Korczak Ziolkowski has played well this message and the Indians have honored as a "man of great vision." Today the memorial in honor of "Crazy Horse" is not finished, but the work continues.
acordeonhobby Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - wonderful video!!! i like very much jose
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Marysiu...to byla naprawde ciekawa wyprawa,ktorej towarzyszyla cudna jakby czerwcowa pogoda..a to byl pazdziernik..Dziekuje serdecznie ,pozdrawiam i zycze udanej niedzieli
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Dziekuje serdecznie...Pozdrawiam i cieplego weekendu zycze
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Halinko..tak masz racje..Polacy potrafia...Czulam sie tam w tamtym miejscu bardzo dumna..dlatego ze nas zauwazono,przeprowadzono z nami wywiad dla miejscowej telewizji,gdyz co roku w dniu 20 pazdziernika miejsce to jest szczegolnie odwiedzane.. Dziekuje serdecznie ,pozdrawiam i milego dnia zycze..
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Thank you very much for watching and leaving so kind comment..Monument is still under construction,because it is Foundation,none government donations.And only 10 sculptors are working there and few other specialists,compare to Rushmore Memorial,where 400 hundred workers were presented.Thanks again..and have a wonderful weekend.
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Dear Annie..yes,it was wonderful trip,that place was in my plans to visit few years..was never right time to go.So I think God sent me unusual weather for my vacation week in October.I was able to have wonderful walk around.. Thank you so much Annie for very kind comment..have a full of joy weekend..
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Thank you dear Piero...the work continues,and will continue for the next 2 generations I think..it is hard work and needs precision with blasts,to not destroy what was done.Thank you very much for comment..have a enjoyable weekend..
shaatc Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - Thank you very much for kind words of comment:) Have a wonderful weekend..
04barbarita1 Says:
Feb 5, 2012 - SUPER..Video..♥..¸.•*¨)..☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆.. Życzę miłego dnia, pozdrawiam:-*)) ˜"*°•ڰۣڿ♥ڰۣڿ•°*"˜
carl0spais Says:
Feb 6, 2012 - Amazing trip dear Chris! thanks for all the information and video tribute to the Crazy Horse monument. beautiful Scenery, absolutely so great. thumbs up!
FORSATKEY Says:
Feb 8, 2012 - beautiful Video with lovely Music..
nikiita7 Says:
Feb 11, 2012 - Przepiękne i interesujące wideo:)
shaatc Says:
Feb 11, 2012 - Dziekuje serdecznie Basienko.Pozdrawiam i zycze udanego weekendu
shaatc Says:
Feb 11, 2012 - Dear Carlos ..thank you very much ,I am glad you enjoyed and that I had something in return to you for your wonderful videos.. Have a peaceful weekend:)
shaatc Says:
Feb 11, 2012 - Tank you very much my wonderful friend... Have a peaceful weekend:)
bigbrownlatino Says:
Apr 7, 2012 - bucket list
teddy12300 Says:
Apr 16, 2012 - i been there but it been i few years not a ton of change
eagleboy5781 Says:
Apr 21, 2012 - HUAAAAAAhhhh i love my lakota music it sounds peaceful and yes i am a lakota trust i know my race
. . . . . . . because these video appear directly from youtube.com which we cannot control it.)
shaatc Says:
Jan 31, 2012 - Dear Charly..thank you very much for wonderful comment..Crazy Horse Memorial is still under construction..and will be I think for the next 2 generations.It is amazing piece of work and honor for the past American history. Have a wonderful week my Dear Friend..