John Lajba has grown accustomed to having Lady Liberty loom over him while he works in his downtown Omaha studio.

Still, the sculptor would rather see the weathered 9-foot copper statue depart his studio shelf - its home for the past 30 years - and placed back where it belongs.

“It’s been ... out of sight and out of people’s memories for too long,” Lajba said.

He might get his wish. Momentum appears …