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Bust of York

Bust of York
The bust in February 2021
Map
ArtistTodd McGrain[1]
Year2021 (2021)
MediumWood and urethane sculpture
SubjectYork
LocationPortland, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates45°30′41.7″N 122°35′32.6″W / 45.511583°N 122.592389°W / 45.511583; -122.592389

A 4 foot (1.2 m) bust of York, the only African American on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was installed in Portland, Oregon's Mount Tabor Park, in the United States, from February to July 2021. The artist stayed anonymous at first,[2] but after the bust was removed he revealed himself as Todd McGrain.[1] McGrain was a student of Darrell Millner, Portland State University professor of history and Black Studies.[3][4] The bust appeared on February 20, replacing the statue of Harvey W. Scott, which had been toppled on October 20, 2020. McGrain did not seek city permission to install the bust,[5][6][7] which McGrain expected to be temporary;[1] on June 11 the city announced that it would remove the bust.[8]

On July 28, vandals tore down and seriously damaged the sculpture. Portland Parks and Recreation removed it,[9][10][11] and the Portland City Council released a statement condemning the vandalism.[12][13] The paper was torn into pieces.[11][10] No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Patriot Front, a white supremacist organization that had recently vandalized numerous monuments to African Americans, was suspected. On July 25, three days earlier, the plinth had been defaced with a symbol associated with Patriot Front,[14] and a mural in Portland honoring George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery had been defaced with their name.[11]

After the toppling, signs of support for the bust and other tributes appeared at the site.[15]

The artist has offered to produce a bust of York in bronze, with no charge for his time and effort, although the casting would have to be paid for.[1] As of September 4, 2021, no decision has been made regarding this offer.

  1. ^ a b c d Mesh, Aaron (August 31, 2021). "Sculptor of Mount Tabor's York Bust Reveals His Identity. Todd McGrain is offering to sculpt a permanent bronze bust of York for the site as a donation". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cite was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Wing, Sage (September 30, 2020). "The York Statue and the value of public art". OPB. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Racc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Rogoway, Mike (February 20, 2021). "Bust of York, member of Lewis and Clark expedition, appears in place of Harvey Scott statue on Mount Tabor". The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Yuhas, Alan (February 22, 2021). "Portland Welcomes Monument (Origin Unknown) to Black Man Who Reached Pacific in 1805". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Singer, Matthew (February 20, 2021). "Someone Replaced the Toppled Harvey Scott Statue at Mount Tabor With a Monument to York, the Only Black Member of the Corps of Discovery". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (June 11, 2021). "Portland official says controversial bust of York at Mount Tabor Park will be coming down". OPB. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (July 28, 2021). "Bust of York toppled in Portland's Mount Tabor Park". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Peel, Sophie (July 28, 2021). "York Statue Atop Mount Tabor Toppled and Partly Shattered". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  11. ^ a b c Sparling, Zane (July 28, 2021). "Portland's York statue toppled amid 'intimidating' vandalism". Portland Tribune (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  12. ^ Mesh, Aaron (July 30, 2021). "Portland City Council Decries Damage to Bust of York". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Joint Council Statement on York Sculpture".
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kristi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Mesh, Aaron (August 10, 2021). "'Put York Back': Portlanders Leave Messages Where a Broken Sculpture Stood". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon). Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.

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