Roy W. Butler preserves Cape's history in bronze

Noted artist and sculptor of 40 years Roy W. Butler has masterminded the creation of the newest outdoor 6-foot bronze monument in Cape Girardeau, set to officially unveil 11 a.m. Saturday at Ivers Square.

The ceremony will take place 156 years after the first enslaved African-Americans in Cape Girardeau enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops on June 18, 1865.

In addition to pieces distributed within the United States, Butler said he also has creations in Canada and Australia.

He even has overseen projects created for celebrities, including a sculptural bust of Oprah Winfrey's father, Butler said.

Previously working in the architectural business, Butler estimated his completed projects to be in the hundreds since he began in the late 1990s.

Growing up in Gallatin, Tennessee, he began drawing, painting and sculpting as a child. But being totally self-taught, Butler said, anything he wants to do in life, he learns how to do it.

The sculpture in Cape Girardeau is one of three in existence. According to Butler, the original -- at the Nashville National Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee -- was done in 2004.

The second monument is located in Helena, Arkansas.

"And you guys got the third one," Butler said.

At the start of the project, he said the USCT had a model to be used, with a predetermined design.

"The average person in the public has no clue what it takes to get from the original sculpture to what you're seeing out there in the park," Butler said. "The amount of fabrication and time it takes, people just don't understand it."

He said people also don't understand why bronzes cost as much as they do, adding the process is labor intensive.

The silicone rubber molds for the three statues normally last about five or six years, Butler said, adding they have been well protected at the foundry in Utah and have lasted since 2004.

"It gets harder to reuse them, but we agreed we will destroy those molds probably in August or September," he said.

Butler said, "When you go to the foundry and see all the steps involved, there are probably 50 people that touch that project going to the foundry, at some point or another."

Steven Hoffman, professor of history in the Department of History and Anthropology at Southeast Missouri State University and board member of Old Town Cape, told the Southeast Missourian in November the new statue alone would cost more than $45,000, and "as much as $60,000 after all is said and done."

Nearly 30 molds make up the sculpture now at Ivers Square, Butler explained.

It's comprised of nearly 20 primary molds and about 10 secondary molds, he said, including the statue's cup, the chain holding the canteen top, the canteen itself and the ammunition box on the right side are separate molds.

Butler said he was at the foundry during the final assembly, watching all of it get welded back together, adding "I project-manage everything."

But he isn't the type of person to "go out and tell the world" of his creations, Butler said. He sees it more as "a piece of art that I did," he said, referencing the sculpture in Nashville.

"As far as the recognition and things like that, I appreciate it, but again I'm not on that soapbox to announce it," he said.

Butler said he enjoys what he does, and it keeps his mind off everything else going on in the world.

Denise Lincoln has researched the history of Cape Girardeau's former slaves who joined the Union Army and worked with the project -- and Butler -- since the beginning.

"I was there about a year ago at the installation site. It was Denise, I think three other committee members and myself. And we walked the grounds as to where they wanted to put the sculpture," Butler said.

He said everybody had their own idea, and he didn't agree with any of them.

"I said it needs to be over there. And my intuition kept telling me it needs to be over there, not only from an artistic point of view, a background point of view, but something kept telling me it needs to be over there," he said.

And "over there" -- outside the Common Pleas Courthouse Annex -- is where the location was set.

Upon further research, according to Lincoln, the location previously housed a market house and auction block for private sales and hire outs of slaves.

"This is just another example of a story that wants to tell itself," Lincoln said.

And although unable to attend the dedication ceremony Saturday because of scheduling conflicts, Butler said it will be a "first-class event."

For better or for worse

If you want to get married with two Pikachu life-sized mascots front and center, consider moving to Japan with your significant other.

CNET reports The Pokemon Co. and Japanese event planning company Escrit are teaming up to offer fans officially licensed Pokemon-themed weddings.

The Pokemon wedding packages also include a Pokemon-themed menu with a Pikachu-decorated wedding cake.

It's not easy being green

Miss Piggy, Kermit and the rest of the gang are set to return to the big screen for "The Muppet Movie" 40th anniversary.

ABC News reported "The Muppet Movie" returns to theaters for two days in July to mark the film's 40th anniversary. The joint announcement was made Monday by Fathom Events, The Jim Henson Co. and Universal Pictures.

The movie will play in more than 600 theaters July 25 and July 30.

New flicks

• "Men In Black International" | June 14
• "Shaft" | June 14
• "Hampstead" | June 14
• "Toy Story" | June 21
• "Yesterday" | June 28

Show time

Don't forget about the 573 Film Festival today through Sunday in Perryville, Missouri. It's set to highlight nearly 60 indie films, according to submitted information. Here are just a few playing this weekend:

• "Two Houses," by Jackson native Jasmine Jones
• "Sister," by Southeast Missouri State University student Stephanie Salyer
• "Christmas Crap," directed by Jackson native Gretchen Griggs (producer for "All Nite Skate") and shot by Reggie A. Brown of Cape Girardeau ("Balloon Man", "LOST").

For locations and the full schedule, visit 573filmfestival.com.

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