In the grand tradition of Celoron, New York's "Scary Lucy" statue and Cecilia Gimenez' restoration of the 200-year-old Ecce Homo painting, Melania Trump's hometown in Slovenia just revealed a new statue of America's first lady.
According to the BBC, the new statue in Sevnica, Slovenia, is actually a replica of the old one, which was carved from a live linden tree by local pipe layer Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, using a chainsaw.
The original artwork was commissioned by 39-year-old American artist Brad Downey to look like Melania Trump in the blue coat ensemble she wore on Inauguration Day 2017. Downey says people thought the sculpture "falls short as a description of her physical appearance."
Locals described it as "smurfette" or a "disgrace," and it was burned down by an unknown arsonist on July 4, 2019. The new one just erected is a duplicate made of bronze, which is much less flammable.
Bronze statue of Melania is unveiled in her hometown in Slovenia to replace the wooden version that was set on fire https://t.co/BMM9y2aNNe
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) September 16, 2020
The dedication on the statue's base does not actually pay homage to the first lady herself, but rather to the old statue. It reads:
"The eternal memory of a monument to Melania which stood at this location."
Born Melanija Knavs, Trump was born in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia, but spent her childhood in nearby Sevnica. The town has become a tourist destination for Slovenians and Americans who are interested in knowing more about the first lady.
President Donald Trump also boasted a large wooden statue in Slovenia, in a town called Sela pri Kamniku. It was made of wood and stood 26 feet high, in a pose that echoed the Statue of Liberty.
That too was burned to the ground by an unknown arsonist -- but not before locals drove a tractor into it.
The charred remains of the first lady's first statue are now making the rounds as an art piece themselves. Downey says he believes it represents the current political climate in the United States.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.
Want to Learn More About Military Life?
Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
