Creation Date

Sculpture creation date: 1939

Preview

image preview

Description

Black and white photograph of "The Maine Lobsterman," a bronze statue mounted on a stone pedestal overlooking the rocky shoreline and ocean at Land's End, Bailey's Island, Maine. A rectangular plaque mounted on the front of the pedestal reads: "A MEMORIAL TO / ALL / MAINE FISHERMEN / WHO HAVE DEVOTED THEIR LIVES / TO THE SEA." The sculpture by Victor Kahill depicts a kneeling fisherman bending forward to peg the claws of a lobster. It is set atop a masonry pedestal built of rounded stones and framed by dense rose shrubs, with the sea and rocky tide line visible in the background. The figure faces forward with his head bowed, wearing a collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves and high boots. The statue was originally commissioned for the 1939 World's Fair and was modeled on H. Eloy "Snoody" Johnson of Bailey's Island, Maine. Johnson fished the waters off the island from age 10 to 79. The sculpture was installed at Land's End on Bailey's Island in 1976 after local residents raised funds. Though considered a symbol of the Maine lobster industry, the pose was the artist's creation and does not represent the way lobstermen actually worked pegging lobsters before the adoption of rubber and silicone bands. 1994. Unidentified, photographer. (See p17021-p17042)(NA4800.)

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) (1990-1995) was a nationwide survey that ran from 1990-1995 documenting America’s outdoor sculpture. Established in 1990, SOS! helped educate local communities about America’s endangered sculptural heritage. The Maine Arts Commission was one of 106 organizations to participate in this survey.

Topic

Sculpture

Collection

MF161

Series Number

NA4800

Identifier

p17035

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

Download Medium Thumbnail

Keywords

Save Outdoor Sculpture

Share

Image Location

 
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted