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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Shumaker, Gordon,     Gordon Displays,     Figure male -- Full length     Ethnic -- Scandinavian     Occupation -- Military     Dress -- Accessory     Object -- Weapon     Outdoor Sculpture -- Minnesota -- Alexandria     Billboard     Sculpture

Big Ole the Viking, (sculpture). Artist:  Shumaker, Gordon, 1920- , sculptor. Gordon Displays, fabricator. Title:  Big Ole the Viking, (sculpture). Dates:  1965. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: fiberglass, painted; Base: concrete. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. H. 28 ft. (8,000 lbs.). Inscription:  (On front of sculpture, on shield:) ALEXANDRIA/BIRTHPLACE OF/AMERICA Description:  A Viking warrior in colorful costume stands at alert. He has a moustache and beard and wears a winged helmet, holding a javelin with his proper right hand. A shield is held against his chest with his proper left hand, a girded sword below it. He wears a short-sleeved yellow garment with a border pattern, a scarlet cape pushed off his shoulders. His knees and thighs are bare, and he wears strapped footwear, with his proper right foot resting on a raised block. Stairs lead up to the base. Subject:  Figure male -- Full length Ethnic -- Scandinavian Occupation -- Military -- Soldier Dress -- Accessory -- Shield Object -- Weapon -- Spear Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Minnesota -- Alexandria Billboard Sculpture Owner:  Alexandria Runestone Museum, 206 Broadway, Alexandria, Minnesota Exhibitions:  New York World's Fair, New York, 1964-1965. Remarks:  The sculpture was originally displayed at the New York World's Fair (1964-1965), next to a replica of the Kensington runestone (see IAS MN000400). The inscription on the Viking's shield is in reference to Alexandria, Minnesota's possession of the runestone. After the World's Fair, the Viking was installed at the intersection of Third Avenue and Broadway. In 1980, because of the installation of stop lights, the Viking was moved to its current site. The sculpture is considered the "guardian" of Alexandria, and has a history of vandalism. The cape was burned in 1967 and around September 1995 the sword was stolen. The sculpture was repainted in 1985 and 1991. During the 1991 repainting the Viking's hair was changed from gray to blonde. IAS files contain a newspaper article from the News (Alexandria, Minnesota), Sept. 22, 1995, pg. 1-2A. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Minnesota survey, 1995. Illustration:  Image on file. News (Alexandria, Minnesota), Sept. 22, 1995, pg. 1A. 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 MN000436   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture MN000436 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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