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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Shutt, Rodman,     Leslie, Julian,     Leslie, Mike,     Ethnic -- Indian     Figure male -- Full length     Occupation -- Other     Dress -- Ceremonial     Dress -- Accessory     Object -- Weapon     Dress -- Accessory     Outdoor Sculpture -- Maine -- Freeport     Billboard     Sculpture

The Big Indian, (sculpture). Artist:  Shutt, Rodman, sculptor. Leslie, Julian, sculptor. Leslie, Mike, sculptor. Title:  The Big Indian, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Chief Passamaquoddy, (sculpture). Dates:  Commissioned 1968. Installed 1969. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Figure: painted epoxy resin and fiberglass over welded steel angle irons or steel rods, chicken wire, and papier mache, secured with wood braces and guy wires; Base: concrete, painted red. Dimensions:  Figure: approx. H. 40 ft. x W. 15 ft.; Base: approx. H. 9 ft. x W. 57 in. (1 ton). Description:  A large male Indian, in Indian dress consisting of pants and a shirt with light blue and red designs and an ornate floor-length headdress with black, red and blue designs. He stands holding an upright spear in his proper right hand and a brightly colored shield in front of him with his proper left hand. The figure is placed atop a rectangular base and is supported with guy wires. Subject:  Ethnic -- Indian -- Passamaquoddy Figure male -- Full length Occupation -- Other -- Chief Dress -- Ceremonial -- Indian Dress Dress -- Accessory -- Hat Object -- Weapon -- Spear Dress -- Accessory -- Shield Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Maine -- Freeport Billboard Sculpture Owner:  Levinsky's Clothing, 313 Yarmouth Road, Freeport, Maine 04032 Provenance:  Formerly located Casco Bay Trading Post, 313 Yarmouth Road, Freeport, Maine 04032 Remarks:  The sculpture was originally commissioned by Julian Leslie for his store, the Casco Bay Trading Company. Leslie was inspired after seeing Boothbay Harbor's "Fisherman" also by Rodman Shutt. The Big Indian, also known as Chief Passamaguoddy for the tribe that used to frequent the Casco Bay area, was built for $5,000. The base was constructed by Julian and Mike Leslie. Guy wires were added for support after a hurricane. When Julian Leslie retired, the buildings and statue were sold to the Badger or Badge-A-Minit Ltd. company, who then sold the building to Levinsky's, the current owner. The statue has been the subject of some controversy, Native Americans feeling the statue is inappropriate and disrespectful of their heritage. IAS files contain related articles from Portland Chronicles (Aug. 1993); The Times Record, Oct. 9, 1987; and The Notes, Oct. 8, 1985, pg. 16. SOS! report and articles list commissioning date as 1968 and installation date as 1969; but the Times Record article lists date as 1940s. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Maine survey, 1994. Illustration:  Image on file. Portland Chronicles (Aug. 1993). Note:  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. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS ME000296   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture ME000296 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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