The first three sections of artist Mario Chiodo's massive monument, inspired by the Sept 11 attack, were unveiled at Kaiser Memorial Park in Oakland yesterday. Sixty thousand pounds of bronze will go into the creation of "Remember Them," a four-piece sculpture that will eventually depict 25 historical figures, including FDR, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Oskar Schindler, Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Maya Angelou. Chiodo plans to finish the sculpture next year, if the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, which is footing the bill, can raise the $2 million still needed.

The sculpture is 52 feet wide and 21 feet high, covering 1,000 square feet.

Update 11:10 a.m. Our reporter at the scene, Caitlin Esch, says conflicting press releases have muddled some of the reporting on this. In addition to the 14 internationally known figures now represented, eight local luminaries are also depicted.

The fourth sculpture, still being worked on, will add 11 international figures and six more locals. That'll make 39 total individuals represented.

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Some of the local heroes now included: Henry J. Kaiser, Marcus Foster, Mother Mary Ann Wright, and Fred Korimatsu.

The names of the six locals still to come have not yet been released. Rickey Henderson, anyone?

Here's a guide to and photo closeups of each of the international figures that will eventualy be represented. Here are some photos of the sculpting process.

More photos on Flickr here and here. Some good individual photos here, here, here, and below.

rubybridgesSM — Figure of Ruby Bridges (Photo: Caitlin Esch/KQED)

More photos

Group shot: Oskar Schinder, Frederick Douglass, Cesar Chavez, Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Helen Keller
Gandhi
FDR
Maya Angelou

Here's a 2009 interview with Chiodo discussing the project:

And more coverage from Oakland Local.

Remember ThemRemember Them

Photos: Historical Figures Represented in Massive "Remember Them" Monument in Oakland