Sculptor/artist Bryan Moore is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund his creation and installation of a permanent memorial to H.P. Lovecraft. The memorial, in the form of a life-sized bronze bust, already has a home selected in Lovecraft’s home town, at the Providence (Rhode Island) Athenaeum Library.

From the Kickstarter page:

About the H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust Project: Spearheaded by sculptor Bryan Moore, The H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust Project is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the famous author’s literary legacy. Lovecraft’s cosmic imagination has influenced every region of pop culture including video games, comic books, music and film. After years of hard work, The H.P. Lovecraft Bronze Bust Project has finally secured a location for a life size bronze tribute to Lovecraft at the Providence Athenaeum Library (founded in 1753) and we are looking to his fans and the public to raise the funds needed to place the bust there as a gift of public work on August 22nd, 2013. Please back our project and help give the Dark Prince of Providence the bronze monument he so rightfully deserves.

The Providence Athenaeum Library, founded in 1753 in Providence, Rhode Island, is the fourth oldest subscription library in the United States and a place of immense literary importance. This was a favorite reading spot of H.P. Lovecraft and his greatest source of inspiration, Edgar Allan Poe. The Athenaeum is remarkable for its wide-ranging collections, its wonderful Greek revival building and, most importantly, the people who know and love it. It is the only New England building designed by the great Philadelphia architect, William Strickland.

The life size bust of H.P. Lovecraft will be unveiled in August as part of Necronomicon Providence at the historic Providence Athenaeum Library at 251 Benefit Street. Lovecraft himself references the historic library directly in a letter to Frank Belknap Long (February, 1924):

“Providence, which spurn’d Eddie living, now reveres him dead, and treasures every memory connected with him. The hotel where he stopt, the churchyard where he wander’d, the house and garden where he courted his inamorata, the Athenaeum where he us’d to dream and ramble thro’ the corridors—all are still with us, and as by a miracle absolutely unchang’d even to the least detail.” – H.P. Lovecraft

The project launched on 1 May, and closes on 1 June. The original pledge goal, of $30,000, has been passed, and while I was writing up this article, the new funding goal of $45,000 (which would allow Moore to use better materials) has also been exceeded. Check the Kickstarter page to see where he’s taking it next.