Joan Benoit, (sculpture).

Joan Benoit, (sculpture).

Materson, Edward, 1935- , sculptor.

Bedi-Makky Art Foundry, founder.

Joan Benoit, (sculpture).

1986. Dedicated May 21, 1986.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: cast bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 72 x W. 28 in.; Base: approx. 23 x 27 x 36 in. (300 lbs.)

(On sole of proper right shoe:) Edward A. Materson (On sole of proper left shoe:) BEDI-MAKKY BROOKLYN, N.Y. (On front of base:) (Olympic symbol of five interconnected rings/depiction of Olympic gold medal)/JOAN BENOIT/FIRST WOMEN'S OLYMPIC/MARATHON GOLD MEDALIST/1984 OLYMPIC GAMES (On back of base:) EDWARD MATERSON SCULPTOR (On plaque on back of base:) THE TOWN OF CAPE ELIZABETH/GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES/THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION/OF THE CORPORATE SPONSORS/WHO MADE THIS SCULPTURE POSSIBLE/MORSE PAYSON & NOYES/THE BOULOS COMPANY/GENDRON COMMERCIAL BROKERS/ALLIED CONSTRUCTION COMPANY/LIBERTY GROUP, INC. signed Founder's mark appears.

A life-sized full-length figure of Joan Benoit in a running position and dressed in a track uniform. Her proper right arm is raised and she holds a flag in that hand. Her proper left hand holds a cap.

Portrait female -- Benoit, Joan -- Full length

Occupation -- Sport -- Track & Field

Ceremony -- Festival -- Olympics

Object -- Other -- Flag

Dress -- Uniform -- Sports Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Maine -- Cape Elizabeth

Administered by Town of Cape Elizabeth, Public Works, 320 Ocean House Road, P. O. Box 6260, Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107

Located Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

The statue honors Olympic runner and marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit, a native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The sculpture was created by Cape Elizabeth sculptor Edward Materson, who based its design on a videotape of Benoit taking her victory lap after winning the first Olympic women's marathon at the 1984 Olympics. The sculpture was commissioned for $25,000. Area businesses contributed most of the funds. Sculpture was stolen and damaged on Sept. 1, 1986, but was recovered. Damage included a bruised leg, bent flag staff, and bent mounting bolt. The sculpture was subsequently repaired and reinstalled. IAS files contain articles discussing the design, execution, dedication, theft and recovery of the statue from the Maine Sunday Telegram, Nov. 10, 1985, pg. 1D; Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine), May 23, 1986; Sports Illustrated (June 23, 1986): pg. 16; Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine), Sept. 3, 1986, pg. 17; Portland, Maine, Evening Express, Sept. 11, 1986 and related materials.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Maine survey, 1993.

Sports Illustrated (June 23, 1986): pg. 19.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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