Friday, July 29, 2011

Steven Foster Statue

100_1708

This tribute to Pittsburgh-born songwriter Stephen Foster sits next to Carnegie Music Hall, near the Forbes Avenue entrance to Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

Stephen Foster, the composer of many timeless songs, such as “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Camptown Races,” and “Old Folks at Home,” was born July 4, 1826, in Lawrenceville, which was laid out by his father.

The statue of Foster that now stands beside Carnegie Music Hall near Forbes Avenue in Schenley Plaza began its life in 1900 in Highland Park.

The Pittsburgh Press began a campaign to raise money to create the sculpture, and Foster's popularity in his hometown made it an easy job.

From the pennies of school children to the checkbook of Andrew Carnegie, the people of Pittsburgh made it possible for sculptor Giuseppe Moretti, whose work is all over the city, to create a suitable sculptural salute.

Morrison Foster, the composer's brother, assisted Moretti, who was determined "to have the likeness photographically exact," a story in the Press reported.

When the work was dedicated in 1900, thousands lined up along Highland Avenue as a parade worked its way to Highland Park, where 3,000 children sang Foster's songs and his daughter unveiled the statute.

However, respect for the statue didn't last forever, as vandals took advantage of its out-of-the-way spot in Highland Park, stealing the pen and banjo several times.

To cut down on the vandalism, the sculpture was moved to its present site, which also is across the street from Pitt’s Stephen Foster Memorial. It was rededicated on June 29, 1944.

The statue isn’t without controversy, as many have objected to the depiction of a barefoot black man sitting below Foster, which is supposed to indicate his subservience to a white man.

Source: “Discovering Pittsburgh's Sculpture” by Marilyn Evert and Vernon Gay, 1986, University of Pittsburgh Press

5 comments:

oakleyses said...

true religion jeans, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, air max, tiffany and co, kate spade outlet, kate spade handbags, gucci outlet, nike shoes, louis vuitton outlet, air max, louboutin outlet, louis vuitton outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, tory burch outlet, michael kors outlet, coach outlet, louis vuitton, coach factory outlet, louis vuitton outlet stores, burberry outlet, coach purses, michael kors outlet, oakley sunglasses cheap, longchamp handbags, ray ban sunglasses, burberry outlet, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, christian louboutin shoes, michael kors outlet, nike free, louboutin, longchamp handbags, coach outlet store online, louboutin, prada outlet, tiffany and co, jordan shoes, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, polo ralph lauren outlet, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet, true religion jeans, prada handbags

oakleyses said...

vans shoes, nfl jerseys, wedding dresses, ghd, celine handbags, longchamp, ugg boots, abercrombie and fitch, lululemon outlet, uggs outlet, herve leger, ugg pas cher, chi flat iron, ugg australia, north face outlet, canada goose, north face jackets, mont blanc, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose jackets, beats by dre, ugg, mcm handbags, valentino shoes, new balance shoes, instyler, soccer shoes, babyliss pro, ferragamo shoes, mac cosmetics, rolex watches, insanity workout, p90x, bottega veneta, jimmy choo outlet, canada goose uk, canada goose, nike huarache, canada goose outlet, canada goose, reebok outlet, ugg boots, soccer jerseys, hollister, asics running shoes, birkin bag, marc jacobs, nike roshe run

oakleyses said...

air max, juicy couture outlet, parajumpers, toms shoes, vans, moncler, montre homme, converse, pandora charms, pandora charms, moncler, thomas sabo, gucci, moncler, moncler, baseball bats, juicy couture outlet, hollister, ugg, wedding dresses, links of london, oakley, swarovski, moncler, pandora jewelry, moncler outlet, lancel, canada goose, louis vuitton, iphone 6 cases, karen millen, ray ban, moncler, rolex watches, supra shoes, hollister clothing store, converse shoes, air max, canada goose, hollister, timberland boots, louboutin, ralph lauren, swarovski crystal, coach outlet store online, ugg

ahmed deraz said...

خدمات دبى
يستخدم البخار لتنظيف الاماكن التى تتراكم بها الصابون الدهنى والزيوت الشحمية والقلى
وتفكيك البقع الدهنية لان حرارة البخار تعمل على تلين الدهون وبذالك يكون ازالة الدهون سهلة وازالة اكثر البقع
شركة تنظيف كنبب دبى
شركة تنظيف مطابخ وازالة دهون بدبى


ماهو علاج البروستاتا said...

I love the podcasts available on this site.