January 19, 2009
Capturing a moment in history
When former Rochester student Marc Mellon began working on the portrait of Barack Obama for the inaugural medal, he knew he wanted to show the president-elect as thoughtful and resolute, “ready to lead on day one,” says Mellon.
“I imagined Mr. Obama thinking about Lincoln and Martin Luther King, and the extraordinary meaning of this election, and of the myriad challenges and opportunities ahead,” says Mellon, who won the commission to design the front of the Presidential Inaugural Medal. The reverse of the medal was designed by former United States Mint engraver Thomas Rogers Sr. and displays the Presidential Inaugural Seal. Mellon, who attended the University in the late 1960s, has been casting in bronze for more than 30 years and is one of America’s foremost representational sculptors. His works have honored individuals including President Jimmy Carter, Pope John Paul II, athlete Michael Jordan, and entertainer Tony Bennett.
Official inaugural medals have been collected dating back to the early 20th century. Proceeds from the sale of the medal help fund inauguration day events and activities. For more information on Mellon, visit www.marcmellon.com, and to learn more about or to purchase the medal, visit www.pic2009.org.
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