Columbus Monuments Pages |
Site Search:
|
|
Phoenix
Arizona N. 12th St. 7509
|
Christopher Columbus |
George-Ann Tognoni
Phippen Bear Paw Bronze Works 1992 |
Columbus statue takes another trip
7 Mar 2000 20:02:54 -0000
From: kolahq@skynet.be
To: aeissing@home.nl
<+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+>
Columbus statue takes another trip
By Dolores Tropiano, The Arizona Republic
March 7, 2000
A statue of Christopher Columbus that's been the object of protests,
the
target of destruction and subjected to four moves, is taking still
another
journey.
"He's taken more voyages than the original explorer," said Ron Costello,
50,
area coordinator for the National Italian American Foundation.
The 2,000-pound bronze statue has landed at the Arizona American Italian
Club, and will be rededicated at 3 p.m. Wednesday. It's the fifth location
for the 7-foot statue in eight years.
The statue was unveiled at Central and Columbus avenues in 1992 - the
500th
anniversary of Columbus' first voyage to the New World. The $120,000
work
was designed to build a sense of community among the Valley's 250,000
Italian-Americans.
But as dignitaries like Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo spoke at
the
dedication, Native Americans banged drums and chanted in protest of
Columbus' role in displacing native tribes. Someone defaced it with
spray
paint during the Columbus Day parade a few days after that.
Nine months later, it was sold and moved to an Italian-American company
at
28th Street and Camelback Road. About a year later, the site was sold.
Christopher took another voyage.
This time, he found himself at the Bear Claw Foundry in Scottsdale,
where he
was cast.
Two years later, the foundry was sold and Christopher was taken in by
his
creator, George-Ann Tognoni, who put the statue in her Phoenix studio.
The Arizona American Italian Club will place Christopher in front of
their
club at 7509 N. 12th St. Everyone hopes it stays.
If it doesn't, Austin Potenza of the Italian American Foundation says,
"We're thinking of putting wheels on him."
Item Code: usaz01; Added: 2 December 2000 / Updated: 21 November 2010
© Website: René & Peter van der Krogt
Your banner here? Click for information.