Who Created Christ The King Statue
In Wyoming Valley?
Historical Society Plans Reception For Lawrence Russo Exhibit
PENNSYLVANIA – The statue of Christ the King atop the King’s College Administration Building is visible all over Wyoming Valley, but have you ever wondered who created this Wilkes-Barre landmark, what it is made of or how big it really is? The answers to these and other questions can be discovered at the Luzerne County Historical Society’s upcoming exhibit “The Art of Lawrence Russo”.
Born near Naples, Italy and raised in Brooklyn, NY, seventh generation sculptor, Lawrence Russo married Dorothy Chappel of Plymouth in 1922 and made Wyoming Valley his home. In addition to Christ the King, Russo’s sculptures adorn churches, public buildings cemeteries and monuments throughout the Valley, Pennsylvania, New York and beyond. Other notable local works include the Kirby Health Center, St. Mary’s Maternity Church and St. Patrick’s Church, Wilkes-Barre, St. John Bosco Church, Conyngham and war memorials in Old Forge and Sugar Notch, to name a few.
“The Art of Lawrence Russo” features paintings, sculptures, photographs and artifacts from the collection of the artist’s daughter, Mary Russo Ermel of Forty Fort. The opening reception for the exhibit will be Friday, November 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Historical Society Museum, 69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre (behind the Osterhout Library). Cost for the reception is $20.00 per person, $15.00 for LCHS members. For reservations, call 570 823-6244, ext. 3, or email reservations@luzernehistory.org.
The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $4.00. The Russo exhibit will remain on display through January 31, 2014.
