http://www.Dahni.com/Galleries/HippieMemorial.htm

'Hippie Memorial' - (text on sign is readable at 12" X 18")

Were you a hippie? Do you know one? Well here is the perfect gift. It's real 'groovy' and 'far out!'

Arcola, Ohio June 29, 1999 Memorial Text reads as Follows:

“Even after thirty years of marriage to Bob Moomaw, I was always surprised by his ideas -- and this event is another surprise.

Bob said there have been sculptures built on more ridiculous concepts than my life – this is not ridiculous – this is my life, A HELL OF A MESS.

Why a memorial to hippies? He said they changed our society for the good. Because of them, he didn’t have to conform anymore.

The sculpture represents his life – mounted atop a wall. Made of iron rods, junk parts and crafted metal.

The short portion on the left is the first 26 years of his life: which included the depression, World War II, the ‘RED’ Scare and the hypocrisies of the 1950’s. He said it was like living in a coal mine with a 3ft. ceiling; the tallest man he ever met was 3ft. tall. Society forced people to stoop.

The memorial rises to 6ft. representing the 1960’s when the hippies hit and raised the ceiling off everything! Everyone got up to stand up against oppression and repression. Bob said it was like growing up! They broke free from small town morality during the ‘Kennedy Camelot’ and the “Hippie Movement.”

The metal shapes are brightly colored, showing love and peace symbol and – individuality! In 1980 Reagan necked society down into small-mind-ed-ness again.

The crossbars are the “webs of his life.” As his life passed through time, other peoples’ junk stuck to him and made him what he was – the product of leftovers from a previous existence. He said he never got to determine a thing in life; it was determined for him. Bob said he left the pieces raw – so they would rust! – the way life is – junk collecting rust is all that life is.

Was Bob Moomaw a hippie? NO. He did not have a beard and a pony tail while attending the university. He was THERE at the same TIME & PLACE as the hippies were, but he was raising his children then, to use the freedom of THEIR minds to search for knowledge in education as he did. As he said, “to his shame, he was no hippie!”

Hippies he said, gave us room to BREATHE; and that is what aspect of their existence he was honoring. Bob would greatly enjoy this celebration of his life sculpture – thank you all for joining in our dedication of his work: MOOMAW – AMERICA’S – ONE & ONLY HIPPIE MEMORIAL!”

Sharon Moomaw

June 29, 1999

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