Footage captured over the weekend shows a wax sculpture of the Lincoln Memorial melting away due to high temps in Washington, DC.
Sandy Williams IV, a renowned artist known for his wax replicas of famous landmarks, has been creating art installations along the east coast for the last four years. One of his notable works is a wax model of the Lincoln Memorial, which has been showcased at Garrison Elementary School in Southwest, D.C. since February, according to WUSA9.
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By Tuesday afternoon, the iconic figure of the former president had tragically lost its head. The sculpture was designed with wicks and meant to be gradually burned by visitors who were instructed to light and extinguish the flame before departing. However, the unusually high temperatures seemed to have caused Lincoln to lose his head prematurely.
The sight of the melting Lincoln has garnered widespread national interest. Williams informed WUSA9 that the wax has a melting point of 140 degrees, indicating that it should have been able to withstand the heat. He now believes that the melted sculpture will serve to emphasize the pressing concern of rising global temperatures.
“I kind of always joked that when we got to the point where just the outside temperatures were melting the sculptures, that’s when it’s also environmental art,” Williams said. “I just didn’t expect that to be this summer. None of us want climate change to be progressing in the way that it is. The sculpture now holds metaphors for that was well.”
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Williams had initially planned for the statue to remain on display until September. However, due to the unforeseen circumstances, it will now be taken down before students come back on August 26, as per the school principal of Garrison Elementary. Numerous private collectors and prominent galleries have expressed interest in purchasing the sculpture.
