Fallbrook sculptor creates tribute to female aviator

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook resident and sculptor Laurenn Prater Barker has just returned from Tennessee and the unveiling and dedication of her commissioned bronze tribute to aviator Evelyn Bryan Johnson.

Johnson, at 101 years old, has been a pioneer in the world of aviation and an inspirational model to the 9,000 students whom she has taught to fly. Johnson has more flying hours (57,635) than any other female pilot in the world and was recently honored by the Governor of Tennessee who named her as Colonel Aide de Camp to the Governor.

Johnson has been presented with more than 50 regional and national awards in her career and has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the National Flight Instructor Hall of Fame among other honors. She is also named in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Barker is a professional sculptor specializing in portrait figurative sculpture. She also took flying lessons and received her pilot’s license from Johnson early in her career. Barker’s works are in public and private collections in more than 14 states in the United States and in Sweden and France. The presentation to Johnson can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzjti5-svBg.