From General Bedford Forrest to Joan of Arc, Jack Kershaw Sculpts Controversy

Jack Kershaw's General Nathan Bedford Forrest Equestrian Statue at Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial Park is juxtaposed to his Joan of Arc Statue but both were sculpted by those same 91 year old hands.

The statues, both over 20 feet tall represent two most certainly different and controversial ideologies but each stands on it's own right to exist and make it's individual statement on it's historical significance. Some have said the the Forrest statue is a blemish on the State of Tennessee because it brings back to remembrance Tennessee's participation in the Confederacy.

Jack doesn't have a mean bone in his body but to hear some tell it you'd think he was out to send us back to the slave-trading era.

The 25 foot tall General Forrest Statue which is one of the tallest equestrian statues if not the tallest in the world can be found between the Old Hickory Boulevard and Harding Place exits on I-65 outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

The Joan of Arc statue which is also about 25 foot tall is still in Jack's studio where he is preparing her for her presentation to the world. Her place of rest has not been decided on yet but the French have their eyes on her already. Oh, come to think of it there is a lady statue here in this country that has some connection to France too. It is the Statue of Liberty which represents what this country is about, the liberty to sculpt and display statues; even controversial ones.