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Each mayor was to determine what musical instrument as well as what Music Genre they wanted their Sculpture to represent. Thus Sheffield chose a Rock-a-Billy type figure while Muscle Shoals chose a 70’s Base Guitar player in the likeness of David Hood. While in the process of constructing the Sheffield Sculpture I was asked by the fund raising bunch to sign the contract for the Muscle Shoals Sculpture to keep up the momentum of fund raising which I did much to my detriment. Remember I am now building a sculpture very much different from the one I signed a contract to do. The process to build the Sheffield Sculpture took more than a year.
Two, the faces and heads of the two gentlemen were to be hand sculpted in clay, and cast in Aluminum using the lost wax process in order to achieve the closest likeness of the two. Also the mould would be reserved of both so to cast busts of the two for future display in Museums etc.
Sandi and Audwin
FLORENCE – Audwin McGee and wife Sandi are pushing back at reports from the Quad-Cities Daily and some other local media regarding the city’s stalled plans for a statue such as those found in Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. Reports of interviews with Mayor Micky Haddock, according to the McGees, seemed to leave out some important facts, which made it appear that the artists were jacking up the price of the statues from $20-thousand to $120-thousand without justification. Their tone indicated to the Quad-Cities Daily during our interview that they felt it unfortunate that Haddock was, in a sense, negotiating in the media.
McGee spent some time crafting a response to Haddock’s position on the 
matter. He sent the response to the Quad-Cities Daily. We are publishing it here without any edits.
“In response to questions regarding the increase in price of the Florence Music Sculpture.
After reading and hearing accounts of the City Council meeting this week and being contacted by members of the media for a response I deemed it necessary to address the situation. I’m very disappointed in the meager time spent explaining to the public the content of the proposal due to the fact that Mayor Haddock asked for a meeting which he and I had discussing this for over an hour taking place more than 2 months ago.
During this meeting Mayor Haddock mentioned that Mr. Jordan would need to be updated also. I met with Mr. Jordan in his office two days later and explained the concept and pricing to him also.
I shared personally with both describing my vision for a possible new take on the music sculpture for Florence and my personal situation in needing to know ASAP if this was a doable project as I needed to commit to other projects if not. I have to this day yet to hear from either. A phone call from either would have been nice, just to let me know what was going on.
I am enclosing a copy of the proposal and there are just a few more points I would like to state. I have never wanted to entangle my life in the 
workings of politics or politicians, it never get’s you anywhere in my case. Factual truths however never let me down.
workings of politics or politicians, it never get’s you anywhere in my case. Factual truths however never let me down.First off, I signed the Sheffield Contract to do a semi abstract sculpture based on the “Mock Ups” I built for display as an example of what the actual product would look like. These were also used as examples during fund raising, by the fund raisers. I ended up building a very life like sculpture but not by choice. I agreed to a price of $18,000.00 for each, not the $20,000.00 stated in several places. However if that $4000.00 difference is out there somewhere floating around and if you want to conclude that my contracts were for the $20,000.00 each then please forward my funds with interest thank you.
After I signed the contract and ordered the metal that I needed we all learned that it was not possible to produce the 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick metal without much complication to the Supplier/Donor. Not wanting to put any undo strife on a great donor I decided to try and use the most easily manufactured thickness that could be supplied in the abstract manner of construction. So I received sheets that were 1/8″ thick. Starting out I realized that the 1/8 thickness would not support the entire weight of the upper body falling short of being structurally sound. I then asked for 
sheets in 7/8″ that were readily available in the process of manufacturing. I took these sheets and paid $2000.00 dollars out of my pocket to have these sheets ripped to various widths in order to construct an inner armature that could support the thin sheets and obtain the look of the mock ups. However after building the complete armature and beginning to wrap the thin sheets I realized that the artistic look of the Mock Ups could not be obtained over the armature. I then disassembled the several weeks of armature construction and proceeded to build the figure in a solid life like style that would itself become structurally acceptable.
sheets in 7/8″ that were readily available in the process of manufacturing. I took these sheets and paid $2000.00 dollars out of my pocket to have these sheets ripped to various widths in order to construct an inner armature that could support the thin sheets and obtain the look of the mock ups. However after building the complete armature and beginning to wrap the thin sheets I realized that the artistic look of the Mock Ups could not be obtained over the armature. I then disassembled the several weeks of armature construction and proceeded to build the figure in a solid life like style that would itself become structurally acceptable. 
Each mayor was to determine what musical instrument as well as what Music Genre they wanted their Sculpture to represent. Thus Sheffield chose a Rock-a-Billy type figure while Muscle Shoals chose a 70’s Base Guitar player in the likeness of David Hood. While in the process of constructing the Sheffield Sculpture I was asked by the fund raising bunch to sign the contract for the Muscle Shoals Sculpture to keep up the momentum of fund raising which I did much to my detriment. Remember I am now building a sculpture very much different from the one I signed a contract to do. The process to build the Sheffield Sculpture took more than a year.Now we come to the Muscle Shoals Sculpture. I went ahead and purchased several thousand dollars worth of new equipment to try and speed up the process which helped but completion took 9 months. During the Muscle Shoals Sculpture process I paid careful attention to the hours and costs of supplies that went into that Sculpture. I won’t go into all the details of what it cost me but the Airgas receipts alone for welding gas, tips for the welder, wire, tips and electrodes for the Plasma, Sanding and Grinding discs totaled well over $7000.00 dollars. Now you add in lets say 50 hrs 
per week hrs. times the going rate of a professional welder supplying his own welder at a modest rate of $50.00 per hour and you come to a total of $90,000.00 plus electricity, rent, gas to and from work, equipment wear and tear, etc. etc. etc. And this is only 1 Sculpture, Hopefully you can understand my circumstance and considering all this hopefully understand why my new price jumped in such a way. Now understand I am not crying the blues because this whole personal catastrophe was my fault. I take full responsibly for my loss for I was the one who signed my name on the dotted line. Now, as a more informed artist I will not put my lively hood in jeopardy again. The difference in the actual costs and the contract price dictated the new price.
per week hrs. times the going rate of a professional welder supplying his own welder at a modest rate of $50.00 per hour and you come to a total of $90,000.00 plus electricity, rent, gas to and from work, equipment wear and tear, etc. etc. etc. And this is only 1 Sculpture, Hopefully you can understand my circumstance and considering all this hopefully understand why my new price jumped in such a way. Now understand I am not crying the blues because this whole personal catastrophe was my fault. I take full responsibly for my loss for I was the one who signed my name on the dotted line. Now, as a more informed artist I will not put my lively hood in jeopardy again. The difference in the actual costs and the contract price dictated the new price.In regards to the proposal I presented to Mr. Mayor and Councilman. I
Rick Hall, Founder of FAME Studios
wanted to do something that would make the most of what was happening in the vein of Muscle Shoals Music. Riding the wave of the “Muscle Shoals” movie I wanted to use Rick Hall who actually started his recording business in Florence, FAME recording is an acronym for “Florence Alabama Music Enterprises” for those who didn’t know, and along with Sam Phillips “The Father of Rock and Roll” I thought this duo would be a very strong statement and much more importantly a huge tourist draw. I planned on portraying Mr. Hall standing there cradling his Mandolin in his right arm while his left arm was resting on Mr. Phillips’ lower back
Sam Phillips
and at the same time Mr. Phillips would be resting his right arm and hand on Mr. Hall’s lower back in a mutual show of respect and compassion for a fellow producer. Mr. Phillips would in turn be holding his staple style of sunglasses in his left hand. They both would be standing in a field of traditional rows of Cotton thus symbolizing their rise from a rural lifestyle to the top of the Music Industry. As Jerry Phillips told me after hearing the concept, this symbolism might go far to bring our 4 communities together in promoting the Industry and I agreed.
Details of the “Proposal which I hand delivered to the Mayor” details that would have been I guess considered as extras when compared to the previous two Sculptures. One, the Florence Sculptures were going to be 2 ft taller than the others. This would achieve an elevation high enough so the sculpture could be seen from the intersection of the Singing River Bridge highway and Huntsville Road. This increase in height along with the base being built appox. 6 ft higher above the Contour of the Huntsville Rd. and Royal Ave. Intersection would allow for the protection of the piece from traffic accidents and dominate the New Entertainment District.
Two, the faces and heads of the two gentlemen were to be hand sculpted in clay, and cast in Aluminum using the lost wax process in order to achieve the closest likeness of the two. Also the mould would be reserved of both so to cast busts of the two for future display in Museums etc. Number Three, would be the addition of true to scale stalks of Cotton complete with leaves and bowls which the average height would be 6 ft. tall or taller surrounding the two as if the were standing in “a field of cotton”. I hope you see and understand this proposal was considerably more complicated than the first two and I feel was a bargain in it’s self at the price quoted.
Now, last word. I followed thru with my obligations though it costs me 
considerably. I fulfilled my obligations and am neither resentful or disappointed. I was able to do something for our community that more or less was a labor of love and I appreciate the community for giving me the opportunity. I was paid a total of $18,000.00 for each sculpture, $36000.00 dollars for two and a half years of work. This was one of those learning experiences I can do without. I learned what it is like getting up every morning and going to work knowing that you have already spent every dollar you were going to take in and you have a long way to go before finishing. But I fulfilled my obligations and my name is good. I appreciate the media for bringing the contents of the latest City Council Meeting to my attention as I am very disappointed 
in the lack of communication that was displayed in basically being a little less than forth coming about several details including that I had sit down meetings. The proposal that was asked for by the Mayor I guess was nothing more than a waste of the Council’s time. My apologies. All I thought I deserved was a simple phone call letting me know that the city couldn’t make this happen. Looking back I just wanted to do something monumental utilizing all I have learned from the first two and birth something amazing for the People of Music in our area. At this time I would like to officially withdraw such a small but controversial piece of paper “the proposal” and give my blessing to the remaining Two Cities in contracting another artist to follow through with this project.
considerably. I fulfilled my obligations and am neither resentful or disappointed. I was able to do something for our community that more or less was a labor of love and I appreciate the community for giving me the opportunity. I was paid a total of $18,000.00 for each sculpture, $36000.00 dollars for two and a half years of work. This was one of those learning experiences I can do without. I learned what it is like getting up every morning and going to work knowing that you have already spent every dollar you were going to take in and you have a long way to go before finishing. But I fulfilled my obligations and my name is good. I appreciate the media for bringing the contents of the latest City Council Meeting to my attention as I am very disappointed 
in the lack of communication that was displayed in basically being a little less than forth coming about several details including that I had sit down meetings. The proposal that was asked for by the Mayor I guess was nothing more than a waste of the Council’s time. My apologies. All I thought I deserved was a simple phone call letting me know that the city couldn’t make this happen. Looking back I just wanted to do something monumental utilizing all I have learned from the first two and birth something amazing for the People of Music in our area. At this time I would like to officially withdraw such a small but controversial piece of paper “the proposal” and give my blessing to the remaining Two Cities in contracting another artist to follow through with this project. Sincerely, Audwin P. Mcgee”
ED: McGee also included this letter for mayor Haddock.
“ProposalPrepared for Mayor Mickey Haddock and Florence City Council
By Audwin McGee
Proposal for Construction of Music Sculpture for The City of Florence Alabama
Audwin McGee Artist
105 West 6th ST.
Tuscumbia Alabama 35674
Dec. 9, 2014
Dear Sirs,
This proposal is divided into two options,
Option, 1
I will construct 2, 20’ tall aluminum Sculptures of Rick Hall and Sam Phillips as depicted in drawing.
The heads of both will be sculpted from Plastilene Clay and cast in aluminum using the Lost Wax Method.
(Note,)
There will be a slight difference in the height of the figures to allow exact ratio of their natural heights, one man will be taller and confirm the 20 ft. height.
The molds of these will be retained for future use being decided upon by the City Representative, Mr. Rick Hall, the Phillips Family Representative and myself.
The heads can be replicated multiple times. Possibly in construction of busts to be displayed elsewhere or sold as additional fund raising.
The base will be accented by a grouping of Field Cotton at open bowl stage and will thickly surround the feet of both figures portraying them standing in a field of cotton to connect them both to overcoming a meager beginning.
Option, 2
Same as above but utilizing only 1 of the figures.
Pricing as follows,
Option 1, $260,000.00
Option 2, $140,000.00
Payment to be made as follows,
For Option, 1
50% (of the price of one sculptured figure) down and monthly payment set up for remainder over the approximate time span of one year. (I completed the Muscle Shoals Sculpture in 9 months.) There can be a 5% retainer of funds by the City of the full amount of one sculptured figure payable on completion of first sculpture at which time the next 50% down payment on the remaining sculptured figure will be due and the same agreed upon process of payment will apply.
Option, 2
Same as above but for 1 Sculpted figure alone.
(Note,) I have determined the need to construct a taller space approximate 25 ft. tall at my current location or another alternate location closer to my home which costs I will absorb personally. This will enable me to build the figures upright as I have never had this opportunity with the 2 previous Sculptures. This alone will enhance the quality of this project combined with another amount of funds used to acquire other equipment that again, (enhance the quality as well as speed the process to completion.)
These additions as well as the knowledge I have gained from the first two projects will enable me to surpass anything I have ever done.
Thank You,
Audwin McGee“
Here is the LINK to our previous story.
