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The Mary Latimer McLendon Memorial Fountain is located in an honorable location in the south wing on the main floor of Georgia’s State Capitol since 1923. It was given by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union to commemorate the organization and their leader Mary Latimer McLendon, who passed away two years before. McLendon, also known as “Mother of Suffrage in Georgia,” served as the president of the Georgia Women’s Suffrage Association (GWSA) for 18 years and was one of the leaders of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She worked all her life for these causes and was able to witness the changes happening before her death in 1921: In 1919, the 18th amendment was ratified prohibition on the sale and production of alcohol across the country. In 1920 the 19th amendment was ratified, giving the women their right to vote. Georgia was the first state to reject the ratification of the 19th and only ratified it on February 20th, 1970. McLendon worked till her death to ensure the women of Georgia got their voting rights, but she was never able to vote herself. Read more...

One Woman Rising statue was created to commemorate “One Billion Rising,” a movement and a campaign to end violence against women and girls. The 12-foot-tall statue is depicting a dancing female figure as if visualizing the One Billion Rising movement’s motto – “Strike, Dance, Rise!” It was sculptured by Phil Proctor, and painted by the body painters Scott Fray and Madelyn Greco. A metal railing around the statue is inviting the visitors to interact by writing their stories of empowerment and reasons to rise on the provided ribbons attaching them to the metal rail. The statue was commissioned by the Chelko Foundation, which “seeks to empower women through art, education, and partnership.” The foundation was established in 2005 to commemorate and honor the life of Debbie Chelko. The One Billion Rising is a campaign demanding to end violence against womxn. Every year on February 14th, people are gathering all over the world for this cause – “RISING: FROM A CAMPAIGN, TO A WAY OF LIFE.” The movement was founded by the activist and playwright Eve Ensler, who is also famous for her playwright “The Vagina Monologues.” In the official dedication ceremony on February 12th, 2015, Ensler was the guest of honor. The statue is located in Freedom Park, a linear green park and an art park showcasing permanent and rotation exterior exhibitions. Not far from One Woman Rising statue is the artwork Journey to Freedom: Women of the Civil Rights, a set of two murals created by Lynn Linnemeier. Read more...

Two murals on Freedom Park commemorate the voices of the women of the civil rights movement, highlighting the female’s past and present contribution. Original photographs by Dr. Doris A. Derby, Shelia Turner, and Susan Ross are combined in a quilt-style design artwork created by the artist Lynn Marshall Linnemeier, who had to use a special technique to install the photographs so they will not deteriorate over time. Each of the murals revolves around a theme. One, around the themes of kindness, love, and respect; the other focuses on civil rights such as voting rights and religious freedom. Among the women who are displayed on the murals are Dorothy Height, Nikki Giovanni, Jean Childs Young, Kathleen Cleaver, Constance Curry, and more. “Journey to Freedom” was dedicated on February 25th, 2017, in a special ceremony with the participation of the civil rights activists Doris Derby, Kathleen Cleaver, and Constance Curry. Freedom Park is a linear green park, one of the largest in Atlanta. It is also an Art Park, showcasing permanent and rotating exhibits. Another installation honoring women in the park is “One Woman Rising.” Two other artworks that are #MadeByWomen are – “The New Endings,” honoring Andrew Young by Diane Solomon Kempler, and “Tree of Life” by Yvonne Domenge. Read more...