Dr. Tolulope Filani S.H.M Sculptures

In 2006, Dr. Tolulope Filani made three sculptures to honer the lives of the three men killed in the Orangeburg massacre. (Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton, Henry Smith) 

His interest and motivation for making these sculptures at South Carolina State University simply came from in his words “How bare the place is”.

Click here for audio

SOT: Dr. Tolulope Filani 0:20

In: I started working here in 2006

Out: And I realized how bare the place is 

Transcript: I started working here in 2006. And of course when I came in for an interview, and subsequently joined the university. I was just walking around and realized how bare the place is.

 After researching more and more about the school and community as a whole, Filani learned about the Orangeburg massacre of 1968 and what the faces of the three victims looked like. He contacted various classmates of the victims like Dr. Sellers to validate the accuracy in his art work and sculptures of their faces. 

Click here for audio

 SOT: Dr. Tolulope Filani 0:25 

In: So I took it upon myself 

Out: And in fact invited Dr. Sellers to my studio to validate.

Transcript: So I took it upon myself. I started the sculptures, and when I was working on the sculptures I invited a few individuals that I knew probably knew these guys (Smith,Hammond,Middleton). Those being some of his classmates, Ms. Piles and in fact invited Dr. Sellers to my studio to validate.

To truly know the impact at the time of creating these sculptures in the moment to some may have been oblivious. However, after the reactions to the clay sculptures of the close friends of the victims,(Smith,Hammond,Middleton) Filani knew he had done something special.

Click here for audio

SOT: Dr. Tolulope Filani 0:21

In: And of course the moment I had realized I had done something different.

Out: She almost broke down in tears as if she was seeing those individuals again.

Transcript: And of course the moment I had realized I had done something different, was when Ms. Piles visited… and she almost broke down in tears. As though she was seeing those individuals again. 

To sum things up, Dr. Tolulope Filani and the sculptures he created are monumental in their purpose of showcasing the faces and documenting the lives of the three men who lost it during the Orangeburg massacre. 

Interview with Dr.Tolulope Filani

 

The Smith-Hammond-Middleton memorial monument is a presentation of art and sculptures to depict and show the faces of the three men killed and the names involved in the Orangeburg massacre. Dr. Tolulope Filani, the chair of SC State's fine arts department created the sculptures, here's a comment Filani said when asked, "How long have you sculpted those?''. Filani responded, "12 years ago". He also added 

 https://on.soundcloud.com/6cca7UcHqKg2hM6w6

With Filani's response, the emotion and passion behind his motives in the sculptures were explained and felt, check out my rebuttal... 

https://on.soundcloud.com/aRXMputeCBJ8ryuw6

Wih already, having prior knowledge of the Orangeburg massacre, I had already knew the importance of this event and how imperative if is to keep that day of February 8 alive and not a secret. 

            

             With the events of the massacre and the lack of visual acknowledgment on campus, Filani decided to begin working on the sculptures. When asked, "Are the sculptures

based on their pictures?", Filani answered simply "Yes they were." also adding...

https://on.soundcloud.com/vLEcyK7CobzyfUXj7

Finally, the overall feeling of acceptance or praise for such a big feat wasn't;t taken as lightly or selfishly as one may have thought for Filani. When asked, "How does it feel to have this day?" Filani answered in one of the most humble ways he could've stating.       " It's not always about me as a person.", showing his gratitude

and understanding of the overall big point of creating these sculptures. Filani then stated this unbelievably 

captivating soundbite...

https://on.soundcloud.com/ZLAuVqu1yFoLjUR49

         The interview and sight at the monument on the campus of Sc State is beautiful. The overall interview with Dr. Tolulope Filani was amazing as well, here's my final thoughts. 

---- https://on.soundcloud.com/r3nsZHMVF1LxS5xUA