Webb makes available site for ‘Breaking the Bronze Ceiling’ monument

AUGUST 26, 2019

The “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” monument that will recognize the contributions of women throughout Lexington history will have a prominent address.

Dudley Webb, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of The Webb Companies, today announced he is making available a site for the monument on the Lexington Financial Center Plaza, near the corner of Vine and Mill streets.

“A prominent monument in front of a prominent building … thank you to the Webb Companies,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.

Webb made the announcement at a news conference sponsored by the Breaking the Bronze Ceiling Steering Committee. The monument will overlook the Town Branch Commons trail. “It’s a prominent place where many citizens and visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy the monument,” Webb said. The Financial Center … the Big Blue Building … is a Lexington landmark.

Webb’s mother-in-law, Governor Martha Layne Collins, also spoke at the event. “A statue dedicated to the accomplishments and service of women is overdue,” said Governor Collins, Kentucky’s first and only woman governor. “It will be a reminder to all of us of how far we have come, and how far we have to go.”

Committee Co-Chairs Jennifer Mossotti and Kathy Plomin thanked Webb for his generosity.

Mossotti said she read an article from 2017 that said only 7% of the monuments in the United States recognize women. “I looked around Lexington and asked myself, ‘Where are the women?’ That was the start of the Breaking the Bronze Ceiling campaign,” Mossotti said.

Plomin said the group has been working hard to raise $500,000 for the monument for more than a year. “We’re close to the half-way point,” she said. “I’m confident we can do it.”

The committee’s goal is to unveil a new monument in August 2020, the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote.

Gorton announced the names of the four artists chose from more than 120 replies to a nationwide call. The four are Vinnie Bagwell, Jane DeDecker, Cliff Garten and Barbara Grygrutis. Next month the community will see preliminary models and a choice will be made.

The “Breaking the Bronze Ceiling” monument that will recognize the contributions of women throughout Lexington history will have a prominent address.

Dudley Webb, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of The Webb Companies, today announced he is making available a site for the monument on the Lexington Financial Center Plaza, near the corner of Vine and Mill streets.

“A prominent monument in front of a prominent building … thank you to the Webb Companies,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.

Webb made the announcement at a news conference sponsored by the Breaking the Bronze Ceiling Steering Committee. The monument will overlook the Town Branch Commons trail. “It’s a prominent place where many citizens and visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy the monument,” Webb said. The Financial Center … the Big Blue Building … is a Lexington landmark.

Webb’s mother-in-law, Governor Martha Layne Collins, also spoke at the event. “A statue dedicated to the accomplishments and service of women is overdue,” said Governor Collins, Kentucky’s first and only woman governor. “It will be a reminder to all of us of how far we have come, and how far we have to go.”

Committee Co-Chairs Jennifer Mossotti and Kathy Plomin thanked Webb for his generosity.

Mossotti said she read an article from 2017 that said only 7% of the monuments in the United States recognize women. “I looked around Lexington and asked myself, ‘Where are the women?’ That was the start of the Breaking the Bronze Ceiling campaign,” Mossotti said.

Plomin said the group has been working hard to raise $500,000 for the monument for more than a year. “We’re close to the half-way point,” she said. “I’m confident we can do it.”

The committee’s goal is to unveil a new monument in August 2020, the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote.

Gorton announced the names of the four artists chose from more than 120 replies to a nationwide call. The four are Vinnie Bagwell, Jane DeDecker, Cliff Garten and Barbara Grygrutis. Next month the community will see preliminary models and a choice will be made.

The Push is On to Recognize Noteworthy Women with Public Monuments

By The Lane Report • MAR 25, 2019

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Across the United States there is a growing movement to recognize noteworthy women and their historical contributions through public monuments. Less than 7 percent of the 5,193 monuments in the nation recognize women….

Organizers Express Optimism, Profess Momentum for ‘Breaking The Bronze Ceiling’ Art Project

By Samantha Lederman • MAR 21, 2019

Women’s History Month was celebrated in a big way Wednesday night in Lexington with an event to raise money for a special public art project.  WUKY’s Samantha Lederman has details.