Walt Whitman (Davidson) facts for kids
The Walt Whitman statue is a famous sculpture created by Jo Davidson. There are several copies, or "castings," of this statue located in different places. It honors the well-known American poet, Walt Whitman.
How the Statue Was Made
Jo Davidson started working on a statue of Walt Whitman in 1925. He entered a competition, but that specific statue was never finished. However, Davidson kept working on his ideas and made them even better.
When Davidson created the statue, he first made a life-sized model out of clay. To make sure the statue looked just right, he used a special frame called an armature. This frame allowed him to move the arms and legs of the clay model independently. This helped him get the exact pose and movement he wanted for the statue. Davidson said he wanted the statue to feel like it was moving, not standing still.
Where to Find the Statues
The first version of the Walt Whitman statue was shown to the public at the 1939 New York World's Fair in 1939. Later that same year, a man named Averell Harriman suggested that the statue be placed in Bear Mountain State Park in New York. Davidson liked the spot, and the statue was placed there. At the unveiling event, Robert Moses, a New York Park Commissioner, made a funny comment: "I am not sure if this is a statue of Walt Whitman by Jo Davidson or a statue of Jo Davidson by Walt Whitman."
Another copy of the statue was made in 1957. The Fairmount Park Art Association bought it and placed it in Philadelphia. You can find this statue at the corner of Broad Street and Packer Avenue. It is close to the Walt Whitman Bridge, which is also named after the poet.
See also
In Spanish: Walt Whitman (estatua) para niños
