Westward, (sculpture).

Westward, (sculpture).

von Schlegell, David, 1920-1992, sculptor.

Westward, (sculpture).

1980. Dedicated Nov. 18, 1980.

Stainless steel.

Sculpture: approx. 10 x 25 x 4 ft.

This abstract sculpture symbolizes Cincinnati's earliest beginnings and the country's westward expansion. Two large wedges placed end-to-end lodge in the earth pointing west like the giant blade of a farmer's plow. The wedges are made up of concave and convex surfaces which increase their sense of westward trajectory.

Abstract -- Geometric

Allegory -- Place -- Cincinnati

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

History -- United States -- Ohio

Homage -- Hauck, Cornelius J.

Homage -- Hauck, Frederick A.

Outdoor Sculpture -- Ohio -- Cincinnati

Administered by City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Park Board, 950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Located Yeatman's Cove Park, Adjacent to the Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio

This sculpture was created in memory of Cornelius J. Hauck, former Cincinnati Park Board president, and his brother Frederick A. Hauck for their contributions to the development of the city of Cincinnati and the riverfront park. The sculpture was commissioned by the Yeatman's Cove Historical Sculpture Committee of the Friends of Cincinnati Parks, Inc. Von Schlegell was selected for the commission from a nationwide competition announced in 1978. Funds to cover the $100,000 commission were raised privately. The sculpture symbolizes Cincinnati's historic contributions to the westward expansion of the United States. The site of Yeatman's Cove is significant because it is here in 1788 that the first Cincinnatians settled and began building a community. The nearby plaque with a length inscription describing the significance of the sculpture was dedicated on July 4, 1981.

IAS files contain related articles from Dialog (March/April 1981): pg. 6; Cincinnati magazine (Aug 1979): pg. 10; Cincinnati Post, Oct. 11, 1980; cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 27, 1980 and June 27, 1979. For related information see also John Clubbe's "Cincinnati Observed: Architecture and History," Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1992, pg. 160.

The inscription on a nearby plaque reads: CINCINNATI WAS MADE STRONG BY ITS IMMIGRANT GROUPS, PEOPLE OF MANY RACES, RELIGIONS,/AND NATIONS. THE LARGEST SINGLE GROUP WAS THE GERMANS. FROM THE 1830'S TO THE CIVIL/WAR, THOUSANDS OF GERMANS SETTLED IN CINCINNATI, ESPECIALLY IN THE OVER-THE-RHINE DISTRICT,/NORTH OF THE MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL, NOW CENTRAL PARKWAY. THE GERMANS HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY/INFLUENCE ON THE CINCINNATI LIFE, FROM FOOD TO MUSIC./EARLY CITIZENS FOSTERED THE ARTS IN CINCINNATI AND THE CITY BECAME THE CULTURAL CAPITAL/OF THE AMERICAN WEST. CINCINNATIANS FOUNDED CULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND INTELLECTUAL ORGANIZATIONS/AND EARNED CINCINNATI STILL ANOTHER NAME, THE "ATHENS OF THE WEST."/

AS THE CIVIL WAR DISCORD BEGAN IN THE LATE 1850'S, CINCINNATI HAD GROWN TO THE FIFTH/LARGEST CITY IN THE NATIONS, WITH A POPULATION EXCEEDING 150,000. BUT THIS WAS THE START/OF THE RAILROAD AGE AND MARKED THE END OF CINCINNATI'S BOOM PERIOD. RAILROADS TOOK AWAY/MUCH OF THE TRAFFIC FROM THE RIVER AND MADE THE CANALS OBSOLETE. UNLIKE STEAMBOATS AND/CANAL BARGES, RAILROADS RAN ANYWHERE. SPURS COULD BE LAID TO FACTORY DOORS AND THROUGH/THE FARM BELT OF THE MIDDLE WEST. THUS CINCINNATI TURNED ITS FOCUS FROM GROWTH TO/DEVELOPMENT OF ITS ARTS, ITS CULTURE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. ITS CITIZENS BEGAN TO/THINK BETTER, NOT BIGGER, FOR THEIR CITY. TODAY--AS ALWAYS--CINCINNATI'S LEADERSHIP IN GOOD/GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPY, MUSIC, ART, AND WORKS OF CULTURE BRINGS PRIDE TO ITS CITIZENS./

"WESTWARD"/THE SCULPTURE BEFORE YOU SYMBOLIZES THE FRONTIER SPIRIT OF CINCINNATI AND PAYS TRIBUTE/TO THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT. "WESTWARD" REPRESENTS BOTH THE/HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF THE CITY IN ITS ATTITUDES AND TRIUMPHS./"WESTWARD" HONORS THE LATE CORNELIUS J. HAUCK AND HIS BROTHER, FREDERICK A. HAUCK, WHOSE/LOVE OF THE CITY, FORESIGHT AND GENEROSITY ARE INDICATIVE OF THE MANY PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS/WHO HAVE GIVEN CINCINNATI ITS STRENGTH./"WESTWARD" WA COMMISSIONED BY THE YEATMAN'S COVE HISTORIC SCULPTURE COMMITTEE OF THE/FRIENDS OF CINCINNATI PARKS, INC. DEDICATED, NOVEMBER 18, 1980./SCULPTOR: DAVID VON SCHLEGELL, OF GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Cincinnati Park Board, "Art in the Park," Cincinnati, OH, n.d.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Ohio, Cincinnati survey, 1992.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 13, 1980.

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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