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Constructing Monuments

Lesson 4

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Close Looking: Statue of Liberty

How do artists use bases and pedestals to create meaning in a sculpture�or monument?

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, Statue of Liberty, NYC

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Close Looking: Light of Freedom

Abigail DeVille, Light of Freedom, 2020, Madison Square Park, NYC (on cover)

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Close Looking: Statue of Liberty and Light of Freedom

Abigail DeVille, Light of Freedom, 2020, Madison Square Park, NYC

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, Statue of Liberty, NYC

Look closely at the images of the Statue of Liberty and Abigail DeVille’s sculpture Light of Freedom on the previous slides. What does DeVille’s sculpture have in common with the Statue of Liberty? How is it different?

The Statue of Liberty represents the traditional purpose of a pedestal: to raise a sculpture up high. How does Light of Freedom break with that tradition?

Light of Freedom was inspired by the words of the abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass who said, “If there is no struggle there is no progress.” What do you see in the sculpture that shows struggle? What do you see that makes you think of progress?

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Writing

Do Ho Suh, Public Figures, 1998, from “Beyond the Monument” exhibition at Metro Tech Center, NYC

Do Ho Suh is another artist who played with the idea of the pedestal. Look closely at Do Ho Suh’s piece Public Figures and write down your responses to the following questions:

How did Do Ho Suh transform the traditional pedestal?

What do you think this monument might commemorate? What do you see that makes you think that?

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Writing: Do Ho Suh, Public Figures: Close-Up

Do Ho Suh, Public Figures, 1998, from “Beyond the Monument” exhibition at Metro Tech Center, NYC

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Sketchbook

Imagine that you could build any monument, with help from architects �and craftspeople.

Revisit your sketchbook ideas for your monument. Will you choose to use a pedestal? Why or why not? If yes, �what form would your pedestal take? �Why would you choose that form?

Here are two sketchbook images that show an idea of a monument to voters. One pedestal represents a large pile of paper ballots, another creates a base �in the form of a crowd.

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Learn More About the Artists

Watch a short Art21 video on Abigail DeVille’s Light of Freedom here.

View more artwork by Doh Ho Suh on the Lehmann Maupin website here.

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Remote Arts Learning Partnership

Module Two �

Studio in a School NYC Team

Julie Applebaum, Senior Director

Remote Arts Learning Partnership Project DIrector

Writing Team Project Team

Anne-Marie McIntyre Josef Zutelgte Belinda Blum Nicola Giardina Paul Urevitch

Jamie Powell Andrea Burgay Katherine Huala

Graphic Design

Don Giordano

NYC Department of Education OASP Team

Karen Rosner, Director of Visual Arts

Amber Lodman, Arts Program Manager Kaitlin Trammell, Remote Arts Learning Partnership Project Coordinator

NYC Department of Education Visual Arts Teacher Team

Maria Bonilla Susan Bricker Amie Robinson Lara Tyson

These educational materials were created through a partnership with Studio in a School NYC and The New York City Department of Education Office of Arts and Special Projects (OASP) and made possible by the generosity of The New York Community Trust.