[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 146 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING TINA ALLEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of 
the passing of my dear friend and constituent, Tina Allen. Tina 
dedicated her life to documenting the spirit of black Americans through 
her sculptures.
  Each of her subjects, famous or not, were her way of writing our 
history in bronze. As an artist, she was an inspiration. As a person, 
she was a beacon of life as she brought to life the features of great 
people.
  She often said that ``great people should have great monuments.'' Her 
work includes abolitionist Frederick Douglass at the African American 
Museum of Birmingham and featured in the movie, ``Akeelah and the 
Bee''; Rev. Martin Luther King in Las Vegas, Nevada; botanist George 
Washington Carver at the St. Louis Botanical Garden; Sojourner Truth, 
City Hall Park, Battle Creek, Michigan; and more recently, entertainer 
Sammy Davis, Jr.

                              {time}  2000

  Tina worked on projects big and small. She was best known for her 
monumental statue of ``Roots'' author, Alex Haley, which was installed 
at Haley's Heritage Park in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1998. Her hands 
were able to create life-like images from simple mounds of clay. As a 
result of her work, Tina was interviewed as a featured artist on the 
``Best of CBS Sunday Morning.''
  Ms. Allen was a child prodigy in sculpture and at age 11 was taken 
under the wing of internationally renowned abstract sculptor, William 
Zorach. After earning her BFA from the University of South Alabama in 
Mobile, she continued her studies in New York and also in Italy.
  To her family and friends, I extend my sincerest condolences on their 
loss. Her sculptures will live on as a testament and inspiration to 
others. She will be sorely missed, but forever remembered.
  And Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield the remaining part of my time 
to the distinguished Congresswoman from California, Maxine Waters.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Congresswoman Watson 
for taking time out this evening to honor and recognize Tina Allen. 
Tina Allen was a friend. As a matter of fact, she was a friend to so 
many of us women in the greater Los Angeles area. We held her in such 
high esteem. She was such a talented artist who is famous for the many 
works that were just identified by Congresswoman Watson. I have one of 
her sculptures in my home. And as I took another look at it, this 
weekend thinking about Tina, it's hard for me to reconcile that she has 
passed.
  She was a very vibrant woman who was just full of life. She was so 
involved in the community. And she had been commissioned to do a bust 
of a community activist in my district, Ms. Lillian Mobley. And we were 
so looking forward to that. And so I joined with Congresswoman Watson 
and others in basically saying farewell to Tina and extending my 
sympathy to her children and to her family. She was a great artist who 
will be missed by us all.
  I yield back and thank you for yielding time to me, Congresswoman 
Watson.
  Ms. WATSON. Thank you, Ms. Waters.

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