ISBN: 9780871951809

In the early 1850s Henry Cross, a stone carver, fashioned three road-marker heads in Brown County, Indiana. The markers, one of which survives today on maps as Stone Head, were the first … Meer...

In the early 1850s Henry Cross, a stone carver, fashioned three road-marker heads in Brown County, Indiana. The markers, one of which survives today on maps as Stone Head, were the first outdoor public sculptures in the Hoosier State. Through the years, counties throughout the state have continued to add to Cross's legacy, dotting the landscape with sculptures both realistic and fanciful. The wealth of outdoor public sculpture in Indiana is highlighted in an authoritative examination of the art by noted public historian Glory-June Greiff. Remembrance, Faith, & Fancy: Outdoor Public Sculpture in Indiana examines the more than 1,500 pieces of outdoor sculpture through such broad categories as commemorative, religious, aesthetic, whimsical, and abstract/contemporary. In addition, the book includes a county-by-county accounting of the location of each outdoor sculpture and approximately 200 photographs. In addition to describing each outdoor sculpture and its location, the book offers biographical details on a large number of the artists responsible for crafting the artwork. "My purpose," notes Greiff, "is to open the public's eyes to the amazing and growing collection of public sculptures in Indiana-for I firmly believe that simply seeing more art helps to educate the viewer as well as the reader to understand at least some of the many reasons why sculpture is erected and to encourage observers to become more discerning." Greiff's work also calls attention to the many outdoor public sculptures that have been neglected, poorly maintained, or are located in the wrong place, either for conservation or aesthetic reasons. During her years of work, Greiff discovered that some documented pieces had been stolen or destroyed, while others were moved into storage with no definite plans for their use. Media ><