photo taken by Carolyn Classen

Forty two years has passed since Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Now a large 6-by-8-foot (actually 76″ x 95″) painting of Dr. King greets library patrons on the stairway landing between the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Joel D.Valdez Main library at 101 N. Stone Ave, in downtown Tucson (between Pennington and Alameda Streets.)

“The Dream”, an acrylic and inkjet print done in 2009 depicts Dr. King at his famous August 28, 1963 “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. It was donated by Tucson artist Andrew Polk and was dedicated in January of this year, to commemorate Dr. King’s birthday.

Artist Polk says of this painting that it was “intended to commemorate Dr. King and his legacy, and to acknowledge the acts of courage and heroism that have carried us closer to a realization of his dream.”

Polk has been a professor at the U of A since 1984, and teaches courses primarily in printmaking and drawing. His art has been exhibited throughout the United States, as well as, in other countries such as Australia, India, New Zealand, Slovakia, China and Bulgaria. “As an artist, Polk works in a wide range of media that includes lithography, digital imaging, painting, and drawing.”

I encourage you to drop by the Main library to see this painting yourself in vivid
black/grey/green acrylic paint.

And check out some books, CDs, or DVDs while there. There’s also a new Friends of the Pima County Public Library book store (click here for my blog) on the first floor towards the right side of the room, near the book drop. Only open M to F, 11 to 2 p.m. at the present.

Parking is free for the first hour beneath the library.

Coming up: 20 in 2010, the Main library’s 20th anniversary celebration on April 14. Read more here.

Today is the annual holiday (and MLK March and Celebration at Reid Park) in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.– who eloquently spoke on August 28, 1963 when he marched on Washington, D.C. Click here for the full text of his “I Have a Dream” speech.

This is one of the most famous quotes from that historic speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

I hope that now in this 21st century (and nearly 42 years since King was assassinated) that we are living in a nation where a person is not judged by their skin color, but by their deeds and actions and character.

As an Asian Pacific Islander who has been judged negatively by my skin color (and facial features) I can attest that this is not a pleasant experience. But I have hope for race relations in America, especially with our “color-blind” young people like my son and his friends. I have that dream that what King said in 1963 has come true today.

Enjoy today’s MLK festivities at Reid Park, 10 to 5 p.m. Most of the celebration is at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center near the NE corner of S. Country Club and E. 22nd St.

Also today, free showing at the Loft Theater (3233 E. Speedway) of the MLK Day Film Projet (pro-zhay) film competition based on the concept of “Beloved Community” as taught by Dr. KIng Jr. Winning submissions will premier at 5:30 p.m. with awards in various categories. Topics for the original short films (5 minutes or less) include “nonviolence, service, grassroots, education, justice, reconciliation, love and redemption.”

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.