The Thompson Elk is back. What about Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt? * Oregon ArtsWatch

"Many people were thankful when the Thompson Elk was reinstalled in downtown Portland. The 6,200-pound bronze statue and its granite base were damaged during the lengthy social justice protests following the May 25, 2020, slaying of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in which Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder. Portland city workers removed the Elk statue that July."

"As noted by Oregon ArtsWatch writer Brian Libby, the public celebration of the statue's return on April 12 of this year drew a large crowd to the area between downtown's Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square, where the Elk once again stands. A rose wreath was placed around the statue's neck (donated by Flowers Tommy Luke), and speeches were given by former Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford, Mayor Keith Wilson, and David Harrelson from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde."

"But seven more publicly owned statues in Portland also were damaged and removed during the 2020 protests. They have yet to be replaced, including those honoring Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theadore Roosevelt. The city-owned Lincoln statue, previously located in the South Park Blocks, is scheduled to be reinstalled next, but the date has not yet been announced."

"The city-owned Roosevelt and Washington statues are expected to follow, although their schedules are even more uncertain. The Jefferson statue is owned by Portland Public Schools, which is planning a public process before making a final decision as part of the upcoming remodeling of Jefferson High School, where it once stood. Two city-owned statues will not return. One of them honors the late Oregonian publisher and outspoken racist Harvey Scott."

The 6,200-pound bronze Thompson Elk statue and its granite base were damaged during lengthy social justice protests after the May 25, 2020, slaying of George Floyd. Portland city workers removed the statue in July 2020. The statue was reinstalled on April 12, drawing a large crowd between Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square. A rose wreath was placed around the statue’s neck, and speeches were given by Kim Stafford, Mayor Keith Wilson, and David Harrelson. Seven other publicly owned Portland statues were also damaged and removed in 2020, including monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The Lincoln statue is scheduled for reinstallation next, while Roosevelt and Washington are expected to follow with uncertain timing. The Jefferson statue is owned by Portland Public Schools and will involve a public process tied to Jefferson High School remodeling. Two statues will not return, including one honoring Harvey Scott and another titled The Promised Land.

Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News