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 Monument to Joe Louis - Detroit, Michigan Posted by:  Rattrak
N 42° 19.714 W 083° 02.686
17T E 331527 N 4688282
Monument to Joe Louis can be found in the median of the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenue, downtown Detroit.
Waymark Code: WM838A
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 01/19/2010
Views: 15
Monument to Joe Louis
Is a sculpture of the forearm and fist of Joe Louis aka The Brown Bomber. This sculpture has the arm hanging horizontal from a pyramid framework with the fist facing south.
Born Joseph Louis Barrow on May 13, 1914 in La Fayette, Alabama. Driven from Alabama by the Ku Klux Klan the Barrow's family moved to Detroit when Joe was 12 years old. In his late teens he became a amateur boxer and in 1933 he won Golden Gloves Championship as a light heavyweight against Joe Biskey. His amateur career record was 50 wins against 4 losses, with 43 knockouts. In 1934 Joe Louis went pro and won 12 bouts that year. He became the Heavyweight Champion in 1937 and held the title for 12 years. Louis served in the Army from 1942 through 1945. Joe Louis died April 12, 1981 of a heart attack and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The posted co-ords take you to a safe location to view this sculpture. At these cords you will find a plaque mounted on about a 2 foot pedestal which reads;
Robert Graham
Monument To Joe Louis 1986
Bronze
Los Angeles artist Robert Graham (born 1938) is well-known for his sculptures based on the human form. This monumental bronze, a tribute to the great boxer Joe Louis, is a gift from Sports Illustrated to the people of the City of Detroit, the Detroit Instute of Arts and its Founders Society on the occasion of the Museum’s Centennial 1885-1985.
From SIRIS site the inscription is as follows;
Inscription:
(On back of arm:) MONUMENT/TO/JOE LOUIS/BY ROBERT GRAHAM/A GIFT FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF/DETROIT. THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF/ART AND ITS FOUNDERS SOCIETY/ON THE OCCASION OF THE MUSEUM'S/CENTENNIAL 1885-1985 unsigned.
TITLE: Monument to Joe Louis
ARTIST(S): Robert Graham, 1938-2008, sculptor
DATE: Commissioned 1983. 1986. Dedicated Oct. 16, 1986
MEDIUM: Sculpture: painted bronze; Base: concrete
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 24150069
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Is in the median of the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenue, downtown Detroit.
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
Found as listed.
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.
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