Monument to Joe Louis
{{Short description|Memorial in Detroit, USA}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Monument to Joe Louis
| image_file = Monument to Joe Louis--.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = The sculpture in 2019
| other_language_1 =
| other_title_1 = The Fist
| other_language_2 =
| other_title_2 =
| artist = Robert Graham (sculptor)
| year = {{Plainlist|
- 1986}}
| completion_date = 1986
| catalogue =
| type = Sculpture
| subject =
| height_metric =
| width_metric =
| length_metric =
| height_imperial = 24
| width_imperial = 11.5
| length_imperial = 24
| diameter_metric =
| diameter_imperial =
| metric_unit = m
| imperial_unit = ft
| dimensions =
| dimensions_ref =
| weight = {{Plainlist|
- 5000 lbs. fist alone
- 8000 lbs. total including framework}}
| condition =
| museum =
| city = Detroit, Michigan, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|42.328694|-83.044544|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| owner = Detroit Institute of Arts
| accession =
| material = {{Plainlist|
- Bronze}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 13
| url = https://www.dia.org/art/collection/object/monument-joe-louis-46291
}}
The Monument to Joe Louis, known also as The Fist,{{cite news|title=Art 'hospitals' heal history: Conservators battle against time and abuse to fix and preserve precious artwork|first=Joy Hakanson |last=Colby|work=Detroit News |date=10 July 2006|page=E.1}} is a memorial dedicated to boxer Joe Louis located at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Woodward Avenue in Detroit, near Hart Plaza.
History
File:Joe Louis Mon. Detroit 5 75dpi.jpg
Dedicated on October 16, 1986, the sculpture, commissioned by Sports Illustrated from the Mexican-American sculptor Robert Graham (1938–2008), and poured by the legendary bronze artist, Rolf Kriken, is a {{convert|24|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} arm with a fisted hand suspended by a {{convert|24|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} pyramidal framework.{{cite web |title=Memorial to Joe Louis |url=http://detroit1701.org/Joe%20Louis%20Fist.html |accessdate=May 8, 2017 |publisher=detroit1701.org}}{{Cite web |title=Monument to Joe Louis {{!}} Detroit Institute of Arts Museum |url=https://dia.org/collection/monument-joe-louis-46291 |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=dia.org |language=en}} The sculpture weighs 5000 pounds and the total weight including the framework is 8000 pounds.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Jim |title=Detroit sculpture of Joe Louis' fist getting overhaul |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/06/24/detroit-sculpture-joe-louis-fist-getting-overhaul/29203267/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Joe Louis Memorial – Robert Graham |url=https://www.robertgrahamartist.com/joe-louis-memorial/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |language=en}}
The inscription on the back of the arm reads:
MONUMENT
TO
JOE LOUIS
BY
ROBERT GRAHAM
A GIFT FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
DETROIT. THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF
ARTS AND ITS FOUNDERS SOCIETY
ON THE OCCASION OF THE MUSEUM'S
CENTENNIAL. 1885-1985.
It represents the power of his punch both inside and outside the ring. Because of Louis' efforts to fight Jim Crow laws, the fist was symbolically intended as a statement against racism.{{cite web |url=http://michpics.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/fist-of-a-champion-detroits-monument-to-joe-louis/ |title=Fist of a Champion - Detroit's Monument to Joe Louis |date=26 November 2007 |accessdate=May 4, 2009}} Graham referred to the sculpture as a "battering ram".{{cite news|title=In Detroit, a Blow To 'The Fist' Touches A Sensitive Nerve; Controversial Sculpture Is Defaced With Paint; Vandals Deny Racism|author=Zaslow, Jeffrey|work=Wall Street Journal|date=4 March 2004|page=A.1}} It is claimed to be an historical metaphor, even down to its placement (pointing toward Canada).{{cite news |url=http://www.dailydetroit.com/2015/07/10/the-real-story-behind-detroits-giant-joe-louis-fist/|title=The Real Story Behind Detroit's Giant Joe Louis Fist |author=Daily Detroit Staff |work=Daily Detroit |date=July 10, 2015 |accessdate=May 8, 2017}} originally appeared in Detroit Unspun.
The sculpture was vandalized by two white men in 2004, who covered it in white paint and left a sign which read, "Courtesy of Fighting Whities". Graham responded that the piece was "working" if it aroused passion.
The sculpture is one of two monuments in Detroit honoring Joe Louis. The other is a full-size statue of Louis located inside the Huntington Place convention center.{{cite news |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2017/05/08/replace-cobo-name-joe-louis-convention-center/101442120/|title=How do we honor Joe Louis? Rename Cobo Center|author=Riley, Rochelle|work=Detroit Free Press|date=May 8, 2017 |accessdate=September 30, 2023}}
In popular culture
In 2013, Detroit-based artist Jerry Vile placed a 4-ft. tall can of Crisco in front of the monument{{Cite web |date=2013-08-08 |title=Detroit's massive jar of Crisco up for sale on eBay |url=https://www.michiganradio.org/offbeat/2013-08-08/detroits-massive-jar-of-crisco-up-for-sale-on-ebay |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Michigan Public Media |language=en}} with a statement indicating it was for "helping to ease the pain of Detroit's bankruptcy."{{Cite web |last=Olshansky |first=Clara |date=2013-07-31 |title=Artist Gives Detroit Crisco, "To Ease the Pain" |url=http://artfcity.com/2013/07/31/artist-gives-detroit-crisco-to-ease-the-pain/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Art F City |language=en-US}} Many interpreted the can as a reference to fisting,{{Cite web |last=Broderick |first=Ryan |date=2013-07-31 |title=A Local News Station Posted A Fisting Joke On Their Facebook Page |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/a-local-news-station-posted-a-fisting-joke-on-their-facebook |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}} a sex act in which Crisco is sometimes used as lubricant.{{Cite journal |last=Barcelos |first=Chris A. |date=2023-05-04 |title=Adventures in fisting |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14681811.2022.2061441 |journal=Sex Education |language=en |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=279–286 |doi=10.1080/14681811.2022.2061441 |issn=1468-1811|url-access=subscription }}