Seabees Memorial, (sculpture)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

sculptor
De Weldon, Felix George Weihs 1907-2003
founder
A. Bruni Fuse
Fonderia Francesco B
Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Virginia survey, 1995.
Summary
In the center of an alcove adorned with a bronze mural of seabeas is a large bronze statue of bare-chested American soldier reaching down to take the hand of a small child. The soldier wears his helmet and carries his rifle over his proper left shoulder. The sculpture rests on a low rectangular base.
Behind the statue is a freestanding black granite wall featuring a large rectangular bronze mural with reliefs of seabee soldiers hard at work using various pieces of equipment in the construction of a military base. From left to right: a roof frame is lowered by crane; a helicopter places a watch station on top of a watch tower; an earth mover ascends a mountain of dirt while a steam roller works below; a surveyor measures the area; a cargo ship lowers the doors to its cargo bay; two seabeas scale a telephone pole; three seabees pour cement from a giant mixer into the foundation; and at the far right, a crane lifts supports needed for the construction of a retaining wall.
Two other relief panels are installed on narrow freestanding black granite walls that flank the large rectangular back wall. The relief on the right side depicts a soldier in the trenches aiming his rifle. The relief on the left side depicts a profile of a soldier standing at attention carrying his rifle over his proper right shoulder.
1971. Cast 1973. Dedicated May 27, 1974
Control number
IAS DC000206
Type
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures-Relief
Sculptures
Medium
Sculpture: bronze; Base: black granite; Wall: black granite
Owner/Location
Administered by United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Washington District of Columbia
Located Memorial Avenue, entrance to Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Virginia
Title
Navy Seabee Memorial, (sculpture)
United States Navy Seabee Memorial, (sculpture)
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Topic
Figure group--Male
Occupation--Military--Seabee
Occupation--Industry--Construction
Record ID
siris_ari_324801
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply