Ocean Springs News
Renowed Sculptor Prepares Bronze Statue of Iberville for September Delivery at Ocean Springs’ Fort Maurepas
Ocean Springs, MS – A true to life sculpture of founding father and French Canadian explorer, Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d’Iberville will greet visitors to Ocean Springs’ historic Fort Maurepas beginning in late September, thanks to the work of local citizens and funding sources.
Following the April 20, 2009 decision by the City of Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen, Canadian artist and sculpture Marlene Hilton Moore was awarded the contract to design and create a statue of Iberville. Ms. Moore is best known for public art pieces depicting life size historic figures, including The Valiants Memorial located in Ottawa, Ontario.
Local historian Ray L. Bellande has assisted Ms. Moore by providing accurate historic details of Iberville’s uniform and calumet or smoking pipe. Mr. Bellande will meet in early July with Ms. Moore at the Canadian foundry the statue will be sent to for production.
“I have received the commission to sculpt Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d’Iberville for Ocean Springs with great excitement. Ray L. Bellande and I have consulted at length to achieve very accurate historical details. The sculpture will include a calumet, based upon a description found in Iberville’s personal journals. The exacting historical details and the calumet will make Ocean Springs’ Iberville unique and of museum quality,” said Marlene Hilton Moore, sculptor.
“There are many statues of Iberville, including those in Canada and Havana, but the statue for Fort Maurepas will be uniquely Ocean Springs,” said Mayor Connie Moran. “We have met with local citizens involved with historical preservation in our area, so we may present this public art to enhance awareness of our heritage for many generations.”
Funding for the Iberville bronze statue was provided by: Village of Hinsdale, Illinois, Historic Ocean Springs Association, Public Art Project of Ocean Springs, FEMA, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Heritage Area program.
