INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis and Philadelphia are 650 miles apart. So, how does a 13-year-old girl from the Indianapolis west side become a model for a statue in the "City of Brotherly Love?"
That is quite a story.
Philadelphia city officials are working to increase the number of statues depicting African American role models and they wanted one specifically of a young-female athlete.
The call went out within the art community for a sculptor and Brian McCutcheon of Indianapolis got the job. His studio is on the city's west side.
Next, McCutcheon needed a model. A friend knew the parents of 13-year-old Scottlynn Johnson, an eighth grader at Wayne Township's Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center. Scottlynn met the requirements. She plays basketball, volleyball and runs track at her school.
Over the last year, Scottlynn has served as the model for McCutcheon's statue of a young-female basketball player.
McCutcheon drove the 250 pound bronze statue to Philadelphia a few days ago and was on hand for Wednesday's unveiling at Smith Playground, on the city's south side.
With school underway here, Scottlynn was not able to make the ceremony, but her family plans a trip to Philly later in the year to get a up close look at the statue in its permanent home.
Hear from Scottlynn and her parents tonight at 11 on RTV6.
