12.23- Roadtrip Oasis

A Lorenzo Ghiglieri bronze statue stands in front of "The Oasis at Lakewood Landing"

Today a friend and I drove from Oriental, NC to Washington D.C. to fetch my brother back to Oriental for a holiday visit.


On the way, after a long stretch of country driving towards I-95, we came upon "The Oasis," a gas store with a Dunkin' Donuts.

It was time for a break, and the donuts were calling to me, so we pulled over.

It was a nice, clean, well-lighted and roomy place, with friendly service and all the goodies you would expect at a roadside Oasis.

The most extraordinary thing about the place is "The Emperor" Statue out front, featured in the above photo...

It is an impressive bronze sculpture by world-renown artist Lorenzo Ghiglieri. Ghiglieri's works include "the 'Official American Bald Eagle' in bronze, silver, and gold, now on display at the White House and part of their permanent collection." (see Ghiglieri website, below)

The Lion's front paw rests on a rock bearing the following inscription:



(Click on image or here for full size)
“ 'THE EMPOROR' [20 ][2004]

"I AM THE EMEROR OF THE LAND – MY KINGDOM IS NOW AFRICA – AND RULE THE LAND FROM OKAVANGA TO KENYA AND HAVE BECOME A SYMBOL {in Bible Histo} FOR KING RICHARD THE LION HEARTED

"-Lorenzo Ghiglieri"

You can learn more about Ghalieri (and see photos of him with the Pope, Michael Jackson, the King of Spain, Luciano Pavarotti and others who own his artworks) at the Lorenzo Ghiglieri website, which includes a photograph of the above statue.

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