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DC heat destroys wax sculpture of Lincoln Memorial

The art installation by Sandy Williams IV has been on display since February.

WASHINGTON — It's been hot in the DMV. One image that perfectly reflects just how hot it has been was captured over the weekend, showing a wax sculpture of the Lincoln Memorial melting away in the high temps.

The statue is an art installation by Sandy Williams IV, who has been making wax versions of historical monuments all along the east coast for the past four years. The Lincoln Memorial model has been displayed on the lawn of Garrison Elementary School in Southwest, D.C. since February. 

Unfortunately, Lincoln couldn't take the heat. By Tuesday afternoon, the former president had lost his head.

Credit: WUSA9

The statue was created with wicks and intended to be burnt slowly over time by visitors who were asked to light and then blow out the flame before leaving the site. But the record warm temperatures were seemingly enough to leave Lincoln headless.

The image of the melting Lincoln has been getting national attention. 

Williams told WUSA9 the wax has a congealing point of 140 degrees, meaning it should have been able to handle the heat. Now he says the hope that the melted artwork will bring to light the urgency of our warming global temperatures. 

"I kind of always joked that when we got to the point where just the outside temperatures were melting the sculptures, that's when it's also environmental art," Williams said. "I just didn't expect that to be this summer. None of us want climate change to be progressing in the way that it is. The sculpture now holds metaphors for that was well."

Williams said the statue was supposed to stay up through September. Now, it will be removed before students return on August 26, according to the principal at Garrison Elementary School. 

There have been several offers from private collectors and larger galleries to buy the sculpture. 

The work was commissioned and presented by CulturalDC. 

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