San Dimas Festival of Arts - Public Art Project - Cornerstones of Freedom by James N. Muir

Cornerstones of Freedom was the Festival’s 4^th public art project. It was exhibited at the 2001 National Western Art Exhibition and Sale. Artist James Muir was an exhibiting artist that year attending his first show in San Dimas. His piece, They Served Well, was selected as the Festival Choice. It is a maquette of the 11 foot monument at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona.

At the end of the Show Ms. Muir approached the Festival and suggested Cornerstones as a public art piece. Her offer was one the Festival could not refuse, and the Festival Board approved the project.

Tragically and ironically, just weeks after the Board approval our country was attacked on September 11, 2001.

Cornerstones of Freedom was dedicated during our 2002 National Western Art Exhibition and Sale. James Muir attended and spoke at the ceremony, and, although not in the Exhibition that year, he provided a wonderful seminar on his public art throughout the country.

The San Dimas Festival of arts is grateful to the City of San Dimas for both the beautiful installation and the native landscape, making for a spectacular presentation, particularly at night with a light shining on the twin figures of Lady Liberty and Lady Justice.

2008 finds James away from home working on the Thomas Jefferson Monument for West Point that we will install in September. He has been very busy and completed several monuments these last few years, one of the last ones installed in April was a 20 foot Christ Walk With Me in Texas.

Cornerstones was truly inspired by the times in which we live and the continued need for Americans to remember the four documents on which this country was founded. As is quoted in the dedication brochure, James says: "The words of Benjamin Franklin ring as a warning to all who cherish freedom and are as true now as when first written over two hundred years ago."

James has created many sculptures as maquettes and monuments that address and remind us of our patriotic duty and the courage so many have shown, and even given their lives to do so.

Having the Cornerstones of Freedom in San Dimas makes James very proud and honored.