Bust of York

Last updated
Bust of York
Bust of York, Mount Tabor, 2021 8.jpg
The bust in February 2021
Bust of York
Artist Todd McGrain [1]
Year2021 (2021)
MediumWood and urethane sculpture
Subject York
Location Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates 45°30′41.7″N122°35′32.6″W / 45.511583°N 122.592389°W / 45.511583; -122.592389

A 4 foot (1.2 m) bust of York, the only African American on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was installed in Portland, Oregon's Mount Tabor Park, in the United States, from February to July 2021. The artist stayed anonymous at first, [2] but after the bust was removed he revealed himself as Todd McGrain. [1] McGrain was a student of Darrell Millner, Portland State University professor of history and Black Studies. [3] [4] The bust appeared on February 20, replacing the statue of Harvey W. Scott, which had been toppled on October 20, 2020. McGrain did not seek city permission to install the bust, [5] [6] [7] which McGrain expected to be temporary; [1] on June 11 the city announced that it would remove the bust. [8]

Contents

On July 28, vandals tore down and seriously damaged the sculpture. Portland Parks and Recreation removed it, [9] [10] [11] and the Portland City Council released a statement condemning the vandalism. [12] [13] The paper was torn into pieces. [11] [10] No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Patriot Front, a white supremacist organization that had recently vandalized numerous monuments to African Americans, was suspected. On July 25, three days earlier, the plinth had been defaced with a symbol associated with Patriot Front, [14] and a mural in Portland honoring George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery had been defaced with their name. [11]

After the toppling, signs of support for the bust and other tributes appeared at the site. [15]

The artist has offered to produce a bust of York in bronze, with no charge for his time and effort, although the casting would have to be paid for. [1] As of September 4, 2021, no decision has been made regarding this offer.

Background

Toppled statue of Harvey W. Scott Mt Tabor Harvey Scott Statue Toppled 02.jpg
Toppled statue of Harvey W. Scott

The bust of York was erected on a plinth which formerly held the statue of Harvey W. Scott, which was toppled and damaged on October 20, 2020. The statue's outstretched right arm broke off. [16]

That statue was by Gutzon Borglum, a prolific sculptor known for his design and initial sculpting of Mount Rushmore and the monument to the Confederacy at Stone Mountain; Borglum is controversial for his Klan involvement. [17] Scott fought against Native Americans as a volunteer in the Puget Sound War. He was strongly opposed to women's suffrage and public high schools.

Between October 2020, when the statue was toppled, and February 2021, when the bust was secretly erected, there was considerable local discussion of what hero should be honored on Scott's plinth.[ citation needed ]

On October 11, 2020, the Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage, protesters also toppled statues of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, for their perceived hostility towards Native Americans. [18] Earlier in 2020, Portland statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were also toppled, because they owned enslaved people. [11]

None of these statues will be re-erected. The Regional Arts & Culture Council in 2021 adopted a policy that allows removal of statues whose "subject or impact...is significantly at odds with values of antiracism, equity, inclusion." While no formal decision has been made (as of August 2021), it is presumed that all of these statues would fall in that category. [19]

Description

Printed message Bust of York, Mount Tabor, 2021 7.jpg
Printed message

The bald head, looking down, was created by the artist. There is no contemporary image of York nor any description of him, except that he was a large man.

The bust was deliberately made of perishable materials: wood covered in urethane, which was then painted bronze. A sheet of paper resembling a plaque, attached to a sheet of plywood painted to resemble marble, [20] had a printed message:

York

The first African American to cross North America and reach the Pacific Coast.

Born into slavery in the 1770s to the family of William Clark, York became a member of the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition. Though York was an enslaved laborer, he performed all the duties of a full member of the expedition. He was a skilled hunter, negotiated trade with Native American communities and tended to the sick. Upon his return east with the Corps of Discovery, York asked for his freedom. Clark refused his request.

The date and circumstances of his death are unclear.

Reaction to the bust

Reaction to the bust has been "overwhelmingly positive". [21] A newspaper described the reaction as "adoration". [20] The bust became a destination. [22] Adena Long, director of Portland Parks & Recreation, described the artwork as "a complete surprise", [7] "a happy surprise". [11] City Parks Commissioner Carmen Rubio said in a press release: "We should regard this installation for both the important piece that it is, as well as a much-needed reminder to city leaders to hasten our work of rooting out white supremacy in our institutions—particularly our city government, where many processes exclude community participation and discourage engagement." [7]

Prior to its destruction, the arts program manager for Portland had said the bust would remain on display until it deteriorated. [20] [23]

Vandalism

The plinth in August 2021, following the toppling of the bust Plinth on Mt. Tabor, August 2021 3.jpg
The plinth in August 2021, following the toppling of the bust

The bust was vandalized three times before it was toppled. [24]

According to the city's arts program manager, the work is made of wood and urethane and "was always intended to be temporary". There have been discussions to replace with a bronze version. [8]

In July 2021, the bust was toppled, then removed by city workers; [9] the director of Portland's park service said that staff would inspect the bust to see if it was salvageable. [8] Portland City Council condemned the vandalism, [12] [13] and locals left signs and other tributes at the site following the toppling. [15]

Media

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland, Oregon</span> Largest city in Oregon, United States

Portland is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous county in Oregon. As of 2020, Portland had a population of 652,503, making it the 26th-most populous city in the United States, the sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle. Approximately 2.5 million people live in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WA metropolitan statistical area, making it the 25th most populous in the United States. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.

<i>The Oregonian</i> Daily newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The Oregonian is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. West Coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850, and published daily since 1861. It is the largest newspaper in Oregon and the second largest in the Pacific Northwest by circulation. It is one of the few newspapers with a statewide focus in the United States. The Sunday edition is published under the title The Sunday Oregonian. The regular edition was published under the title The Morning Oregonian from 1861 until 1937.

<i>Willamette Week</i> Alternative weekly newspaper in Portland, Oregon, United States

Willamette Week (WW) is an alternative weekly newspaper and a website published in Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1974. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business, and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Portland, Oregon</span> Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, United States

Downtown Portland is the central business district of Portland, Oregon, United States. It is on the west bank of the Willamette River in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Tabor, Portland, Oregon</span> Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, United States

Mount Tabor is a neighborhood in Southeast Portland that takes its name from the volcanic cinder cone and city park on the volcano that it surrounds, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The name refers to Mount Tabor, Israel. It was named by Plympton Kelly, son of Oregon City pioneer resident Clinton Kelly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Portland, Oregon</span>

The history of the city of Portland, Oregon, began in 1843 when business partners William Overton and Asa Lovejoy filed to claim land on the west bank of the Willamette River in Oregon Country. In 1845 the name of Portland was chosen for this community by coin toss. February 8, 1851, the city was incorporated. Portland has continued to grow in size and population, with the 2010 Census showing 583,776 residents in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey W. Scott</span> American journalist (1838–1910)

Harvey Whitefield Scott (1838–1910) was an American pioneer who traveled to Oregon in 1852. Scott was a long-time editorialist, and eventual part owner of The Oregonian newspaper. Scott was regarded by his contemporaries as instrumental in bringing the state of Oregon firmly into the political camp of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darcelle XV Plaza</span> Public park in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Darcelle XV Plaza is a square that was a small park and fountain at the intersection of Southwest Park Avenue and Southwest Harvey Milk Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It received the current name in July 2023. It was named after Hugh O'Bryant, Portland's first mayor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Tabor (Oregon)</span> Extinct volcano vent, neighborhood, and park in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic vent with a city park on the volcano, located in Portland, Oregon's neighborhood of the same name. The name refers to Mount Tabor, Israel. It was named by Plympton Kelly, son of Oregon City pioneer resident Clinton Kelly.

<i>Thompson Elk Fountain</i> Sculpture in Portland, Oregon

Thompson Elk Fountain, also known as the David P. Thompson Fountain, David P. Thompson Monument, Elk Fountain, the Thompson Elk, or simply Elk, is a historic fountain and bronze sculpture by American artist Roland Hinton Perry. The fountain with its statue was donated to the city of Portland, Oregon, United States, in 1900 for display in Downtown Portland's Plaza Blocks. It is owned by the City of Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Abraham Lincoln (Portland, Oregon)</span> Statue of Abraham Lincoln in Portland, Oregon

A bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln by George Fite Waters was installed in Portland, Oregon's South Park Blocks, in the United States, until 2020. The 10-foot statue was donated by Henry Waldo Coe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Vera Katz</span> Statue in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Vera Katz, also known as Mayor, Vera Katz, is an outdoor bronze sculpture depicting Vera Katz created by American artist Bill Bane. Unveiled in 2006, it is located along the Eastbank Esplanade in Portland, Oregon. Katz, a former mayor of the city between 1993 and 2005, supported arts and culture during her tenure and established Oregon's Percent for Art program. She was also instrumental in developing the Eastbank Esplanade, which is named after her. The sculpture has received a mostly positive reception and has inspired people to adorn it with clothing, flowers and makeup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of George Washington (Portland, Oregon)</span> Statue of George Washington in Portland, Oregon

A 1926–27 statue of George Washington by Italian American artist Pompeo Coppini was installed in northeast Portland, Oregon, United States. The bronze sculpture was the second of three statues of Washington by the artist, following a similar statue installed in Mexico City in 1912 and preceding another installed on the University of Texas at Austin campus in February 1955. The Portland statue was created to commemorate the 1926 sesquicentennial of the Declaration of Independence and dedicated in 1927. It was part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. In June 2020, it was toppled by protestors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Harvey W. Scott</span> Statue of Harvey W. Scott by Gutzon Borglum in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

A bronze sculpture of American pioneer, newspaper editor and historian Harvey W. Scott (1838–1910) by Gutzon Borglum, sometimes called Harvey Scott or Harvey W. Scott, was installed on Mount Tabor in Portland, Oregon, United States, until being toppled in October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Copper Penny</span> Defunct nightclub in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

New Copper Penny was a nightclub located at the intersection of Southeast 92nd Avenue and Foster Road in Portland's Lents neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End Domestic Terrorism rally</span> 2019 Proud Boys rally in Portland, Oregon, US

The End Domestic Terrorism rally, sometimes subtitled "Better Dead Than Red", was a far-right demonstration organized by the Proud Boys and held in Portland, Oregon on August 17, 2019. The event, the purpose of which was to promote the idea that the "antifa" anti-fascist movement should be classified as "domestic terrorism", received national attention. The rally drew more counter-demonstrators than participants, with at least one group urging its members in advance not to attend, and ended with the Proud Boys requesting a police escort to leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

Starting in May 2020, protests following the murder of George Floyd were held in the city of Portland, Oregon, concurrent with protests in other cities in the United States and around the world. By July 2020, many of the protests, which had been held every day since May 28, drew more than 1,000 participants. Protests continued into August, September, and October 2020, often drawing hundreds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheerful Bullpen</span> Pub in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Cheerful Bullpen is a pub in Portland, Oregon, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmont Inn</span> Bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The Belmont Inn, or simply Belmont's, is a bar along Belmont Street in the district of the same name within southeast Portland, Oregon's Sunnyside neighborhood. Owned by Seth Leavens, the bar has pool, darts, a jukebox, and video poker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mesh, Aaron (August 31, 2021). "Sculptor of Mount Tabor's York Bust Reveals His Identity. Todd McGrain is offering to sculpt a permanent bronze bust of York for the site as a donation". Willamette Week . Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Mesh, Aaron (June 10, 2021). "Portland Police Cite Woman for Defacing York Bust on Mount Tabor". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. ↑ Wing, Sage (September 30, 2020). "The York Statue and the value of public art". OPB . Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "'What Kind of Public Art Do We Want Now?' A conversation with PSU Professor and York historian Darrell Millner, the unidentified York artist, and Kristin Calhoun, Director of Public Art, Regional Arts & Culture Council" (PDF). Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, Oregon. August 19, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ Rogoway, Mike (February 20, 2021). "Bust of York, member of Lewis and Clark expedition, appears in place of Harvey Scott statue on Mount Tabor". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ Yuhas, Alan (February 22, 2021). "Portland Welcomes Monument (Origin Unknown) to Black Man Who Reached Pacific in 1805". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Singer, Matthew (February 20, 2021). "Someone Replaced the Toppled Harvey Scott Statue at Mount Tabor With a Monument to York, the Only Black Member of the Corps of Discovery". Willamette Week . Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Foden-Vencil, Kristian (June 11, 2021). "Portland official says controversial bust of York at Mount Tabor Park will be coming down". OPB . Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Foden-Vencil, Kristian (July 28, 2021). "Bust of York toppled in Portland's Mount Tabor Park". Oregon Public Broadcasting . Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Peel, Sophie (July 28, 2021). "York Statue Atop Mount Tabor Toppled and Partly Shattered". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Sparling, Zane (July 28, 2021). "Portland's York statue toppled amid 'intimidating' vandalism". Portland Tribune (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  12. 1 2 Mesh, Aaron (July 30, 2021). "Portland City Council Decries Damage to Bust of York". Willamette Week . Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Joint Council Statement on York Sculpture".
  14. 1 2 Turnquist, Kristi (Jun 27, 2021). "York statue atop Mount Tabor defaced with hate symbol". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Mesh, Aaron (August 10, 2021). "'Put York Back': Portlanders Leave Messages Where a Broken Sculpture Stood". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ Ryan, Jim (Oct 20, 2020). "Statue of Harvey Scott, former editor of The Oregonian, torn down in Mount Tabor". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  17. ↑ Bernard, Diane (July 2, 2020). "The creator of Mount Rushmore's forgotten ties to white supremacy". Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Jim; Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (Oct 12, 2020). "Portland protesters topple 2 statues of former presidents; Trump calls for arrests, federal intervention". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  19. ↑ Mesh, Aaron (June 23, 2021). "Portland Protesters Tore Down Statues of Presidents. New Rules May Keep Them Mothballed". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 Mesh, Aaron (June 16, 2021). "Here's What Could Happen to the Bust of York Atop Mount Tabor". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  21. ↑ Sparling, Zane (February 23, 2021). "'Overwhelmingly positive' – Portland reacts to York statue". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  22. 1 2 3 Mesh, Aaron (June 8, 2021). "Video Shows Woman Defacing Bust of York on Mount Tabor With Purple Spray Paint". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  23. ↑ Lenthang, Marlene (February 23, 2021). "Bust of York, an enslaved Black member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, appears in Portland. York is described as 'the first African American to cross North America'". ABCNews . Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Bust of York at Mt. Tabor Park damaged for the third time". KATU . July 28, 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  25. ↑ Gaitán, Catalina (June 8, 2021). "York statue defaced months after appearing on Mount Tabor; suspect issued citation". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Bust of York at Mt. Tabor Park mystifies Portland Parks & Rec". KATU. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  27. ↑ Goodwin, Jon (February 22, 2021). "Bust of York, from Lewis and Clark expedition, now sits at Portland's Mount Tabor Park". KGW. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  28. ↑ Searching for York, Oregon Public Broadcasting, February 27, 2021, archived from the original on August 27, 2021, retrieved August 20, 2021– via YouTube
  29. ↑ "Woman cited for vandalizing bust of York on Mount Tabor". KGW. June 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.