Fountain of the Pioneers

PrairieMod · Post by **PrairieMod** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:39 am

A new feature article has been posted to PrairieMod about the controversy surrounding "Fountain of the Pioneers" in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The fountain was designed by Alfonso Iannelli, who was also responsible for co-designing, modeling and executing the statuary for Frank Lloyd Wright's Midway Gardens.
Read the article here:

http://www.prairiemod.com/features/2011 ... uture.html

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:43 am

It's a fantastic piece. But just who are these "PC activists"? The chamber of commerce?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:40 am

Ianelli's "architecture" is quite compatible with the work of FLLW, isn't it . . .

So, the "Indian" portion of this piece has already been removed ? Or does the article (very complete and helpful, apparently) refer to another, separate Ianelli sculpture ?

S

Reidy · Post by **Reidy** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:41 am

Accoring to one none-too-reliable blog, the Chamber of Commerce is indeed among the people and organizations that want to be rid of the fountain: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/dogmeat/ib006328.html.

The Detroit News link there is subscription-only, and the Free Press link didn't work.

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:10 am

SDR- The "Indian" portion is an abstraction connected to but immediately below the abstraction of the towering figure (with the club, or rifle? in its left hand). The face of the Indian is looking directly at the upper torso of the "pioneer". What we mainly see is the Indian headdress.

I don't normally think of the Chamber of Commerce as being PC. It sounds like they want an excuse to "develop" the area into something else-more parking, maybe??? And, of course, it would be much cheaper to rip it out and replace it with something less beautiful and thought provoking, than to properly restore it. The old "bottom line" (in disguise...)

Palli- Are you there?

KevinW · Post by **KevinW** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:59 pm

Part of the history of Kalamazoo is the removal of Native Americans by force. Why must history be swept under the carpet because some do-gooders feel they should be offended by something that has an historical reference. A monument does not necessarily celebrate an event, but can simply remind us, or educate us.

Personally...I find casinos much more offensive than this.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:35 pm

The portions of our national history that are excised from approved textbooks is a disgrace. Not only that: a grade-school teacher I had (a neighbor, who eventually rose to the position of school principal) went out of his way to relate a particularly unattractive personal anecdote related to a visit to a Native American reservation in the West. I still recall the episode after 60 years. Personal bias has no place in the classroom -- in particular.

S D R

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:48 pm

I recorded music and toured with Native American musicians and dancers for about a year. I once had a conversation with a Taos Pueblo musician named Robert Mirabal (who calls himself the Alter Native...) He said this about himself without any hint of self pity, "I'm a loser". He paused and went on, "The noble savage is a myth which perpetuates the hiding of the truth. The reality is that as a people, we are the losers, and the sooner we recognize that, the better."

Doesn't Alfonso Iannelli's work also speak the truth?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:51 pm

Depressed people are sometimes credited with a more realistic view of the world. It takes a bit of "blind optimism" to deal with life's inherent sorrows ?

S

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:56 pm

There wasn't the slightest hint of depression in Mirabal's statement or demeanor. It was stated as a simple fact.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:14 pm

First, one does not spend countless hours "pouring" over materials; the word is "poring." Professional writers, at least, should be better educated.

This regretable incident is like the recent revival of the effort to ban "Huckleberry Finn" from school libraries because of some unfortunate language. A search of FLW's autobiography would alarm PC nuts, as well.

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:15 pm

I consider self- awareness, and the ability to look unflinchingly at reality, to be positive character traits.

S D R

Reidy · Post by **Reidy** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:55 pm

The "noble savage" was an invention of Jean-Jaques Rousseau, an 18th-century Swiss intellectual. We shouldn't be surprised that a native of the Taos Pueblo didn't feel at home with the notion.

PrairieMod · Post by **PrairieMod** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:09 pm

Mr. Grant--thanks for catching my misspelling. I have corrected it.

Though I am many things, I really don't consider myself a "professional writer"....more of an enthusiastic busy body with a passion for design.

I do my best not to foul the English language too much in my posts, but I make mistakes. I appreciate all the eagle eyes that help keep me honest and as correct as possible.

Regards,
Eric

peterm · Post by **peterm** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:18 pm

Thanks Eric, for the interesting piece. It's been on my mind the entire day..

Reidy wrote:The "noble savage" was an invention of Jean-Jaques Rousseau, an 18th-century Swiss intellectual. We shouldn't be surprised that a native of the Taos Pueblo didn't feel at home with the notion.

That may be true, but the Chamber of Commerce in Kalamazoo would probably be much more comfortable with a heroic, "realistic" sculpture of the "noble savage" or a depiction of a pioneer family riding on a covered wagon than the abstract, subtle, provocative piece which Iannelli created.

Less history, less guilt...