James Liccione Sculpture

Zora Neale Hurston recognizes artist, sculpture

FORT PIERCE - The Zora Fest! Committee of Fort Pierce - St. Lucie County and the Zora Neale Hurston Florida Foundation will be dedicating a new sculpture piece at the Zora Neale Hurston gravesite and honoring its sculptor James Liccione at the second annual Zora Recognition Luncheon.

Both events are planned for Saturday, Oct. 9, with the sculpture dedication at 12:30 p.m. at Hurston's grave at Sarah's Memorial Garden at Avenue S and No. 17th Street.

On hand for the ceremony will be city and county officials and representatives of the Art in Public Places project that created the Zora Neale Hurston Memorial Monument.

At 2 p.m., guests will be attending the Zora Recognition luncheon to honor sculptor James Liccione, who designed and constructed the two structures that serve as an entrance to the Hurston gravesite. The sculpture work was installed in April.

Liccione is a well-known sculptor in the arts world, as well as film and television.

He has provided sculptures in steel, iron, and wood for sets on The Cosby Show, The Guiding Light and Saturday Night live. He also produced sets for The Odd Couple and Sesame Street movies.

Originator of The Creative Era Movement, Liccione's work is well-known in New York City, with pieces on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a pre-eminent practicing artist, college sculpture instructor, and a conservator at an art museum.

His education includes studies at the Art Students League in New York City, the Accademia Di Bella Arti Di Brera in Milan, Italy, a bachelor of fine art at Florida Atlantic University and a master's degree in fine art at Florida State University. His work is sought for commissions and in museums.

The dedication ceremony is free and open to the public. The luncheon fundraiser is $35 per person at Granny's Kitchen, 901 Avenue D in Fort Pierce. Reservations may be made with Adrienne Moore at (772) 341-3845 or by email at adrienne.moore7@gmail.com.