Jimilu "Mimi" Mason (or simply known as JIMILU) (1930-2019) was an American sculptor. Mason is known for her busts of notable American figures of the 1960s, including

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

, who sat for Mason many times.

Early life and education

Jimilu Mason was born in 1930 in

Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern New ...

. She was skilled at a young age in modeling and sculpture, which led her to complete a bachelor's degree in fine arts from

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

in 1953.

Career

Mason lived and worked in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

, just outside of Washington D.C., where she operated a frame shop in addition to her studio. Her breakthrough work was when she submitted a bust of Frederick M. Vinson for consideration during a call for submissions for the chief justice's official portrait. Mason's bust was chosen. Today, it resides in the Supreme Court Bust Collection. Her sculpture of

Constantino Brumidi Constantino Brumidi (July 26, 1805 – February 19, 1880) was a Greek-Italian-American historical painter, best known and honored for his fresco work, Apotheosis of Washington, in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Parentage and early life ...

is located in the

Brumidi Corridors The Brumidi Corridors are the vaulted, ornately decorated corridors on the first floor of the Senate wing in the United States Capitol. Background and artist They are named for Constantino Brumidi, who designed the murals, although assistants a ...

. She was friends with

Roger L. Stevens Roger Lacey Stevens (March 12, 1910 – February 2, 1998) was an American theatrical producer, arts administrator, and real estate executive. He was the founding Chairman of both the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (1961) and the National ...

, who sat for Mason. Her bust of Stevens is on display at the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

, of which he was founding chair. Mason also created works of

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor and songwriter. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from t ...

Edwin C. Johnson Edwin Carl Johnson (January 1, 1884 – May 30, 1970) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as both governor of and U.S. senator from the state of Colorado. Background Johnson was born in Scandia in Republic County in ...

, and

Sam Rayburn Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (January 6, 1882 – November 16, 1961) was an American politician who served as the 43rd speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was a three-time House speaker, former House majority leader, two-time ...

. In 1971, Mason was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from George Washington University. Mason's final piece was a memorial to 9/11.

Lyndon B. Johnson

She sculpted numerous busts of

Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

. Johnson sat for Mason, at both his

ranch A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...

and at the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...

. Johnson would call Mason and invite her down to his ranch, having her fly with him on

Air Force One Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. In common parlance, the term is used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and used ...

with the work-in-progress. She preferred to work with Johnson at his ranch, where he was more relaxed. One of her bust's of Johnson resides in the Vice Presidential Bust Collection and another is on display at the

Lyndon B. Johnson Library The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, also known as the LBJ Presidential Library, is the presidential library and museum of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States (1963–1969). It is located on the grounds of t ...

. Johnson appointment Mason to serve on the board of the National Council of the Arts from 1966 until 1972.

Style

Mason created her sculptures out of clay. Final pieces were cast in bronze or chiseled in

Carrara marble Carrara marble, Luna marble to the Romans, is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It has been quarried since Roman times in the mountains just outside the city of Carrara in the province of Massa ...

Later life and legacy

Mason died at the Seasons Retirement Community in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

on May 27, 2019.

Notable works

*1963: ''

'', National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. *1967: ''

'',

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

, Washington, D.C. *1970: '' Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn'', National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. *1986: ''

The Servant Christ ''The Servant Christ'' is a public artwork by American artist Jimilu Mason, located at Christ House, 1717 Columbia Road, NW in Washington, D.C., United States. ''The Servant Christ'' was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outd ...

'', Christ House, Washington, D.C. *1990: '' The Parable'', The Festival Center, Washington, D.C.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Jimilu 1930 births 2019 deaths American women sculptors 21st-century American sculptors 20th-century American sculptors George Washington University alumni People from Las Cruces, New Mexico Sculptors from New Mexico Sculptors from Ohio Sculptors from Virginia 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesswomen 21st-century American businesspeople Artists from Cincinnati Artists from Virginia People from Alexandria, Virginia 20th-century American businesswomen