Statue of Junípero Serra (Los Angeles)
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Short description|Statue in Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Statue of Junípero Serra
| italic title = no
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| image = File:Father Junipero Serra (cropped).jpg
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| caption = The statue in 2014
| artist = Ettore Cadorin (replica)
| year = {{start date|1932}}
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| medium = {{Flatlist|
- Bronze sculpture
- concrete (base)
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| subject = Junípero Serra
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| condition = In storage
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| city = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|34.0562|N|118.2383|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 13
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A statue of Junípero Serra (sometimes called Father Junipero Serra or Fra Junipero Serra){{cite web |title=Fra Junipero Serra, (sculpture). |url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!922~!0#focus |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |accessdate=July 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712202020/https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!922~!0#focus |url-status=live }} was installed in a portion of El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument informally known as Father Serra Park in Los Angeles, California.
Description
Located between the Santa Ana Freeway and the city's Chinatown district, the bronze sculpture of Junípero Serra, a replica of the one completed by Ettore Cadorin for the National Statuary Hall Collection in 1930, measures approximately 8' 9" × 2' 2" × 2' 4", and rests on a concrete base that measures approximately 5' 8" × 3' 8" × 3' 8".
History
The memorial was installed in 1932.{{Cite news|last=Miranda|first=Carolina A.|date=June 21, 2020|title=At Los Angeles toppling of Junipero Serra statue, activists want full history told|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-06-20/statue-junipero-serra-monument-protest-activists-take-down-los-angeles|url-status=live|access-date=June 27, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626151008/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-06-20/statue-junipero-serra-monument-protest-activists-take-down-los-angeles}} Some 4,000 people came for the occasion.{{Cite web |last=Meares |first=Hadley |date=November 12, 2020 |title=What Do We Do With LA's Junipero Serra Statues? |url=https://laist.com/news/la-history/what-do-we-with-las-junipero-serra-statues-california-missions-native-american-history |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=LAist |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105060313/https://laist.com/news/la-history/what-do-we-with-las-junipero-serra-statues-california-missions-native-american-history |url-status=live }} A bronze statue by Henry Lion of the Spanish Colonial governor, Felipe de Neve, was also installed in 1932 in the park.{{Cite web |title=Early Views of the Los Angeles Plaza |url=https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Plaza_of_LA.html |access-date=December 8, 2020 |website=Water and Power Associates}}
The artwork was surveyed by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in 1994.
=Removal=
The statue was toppled by a group consisting of members from the Tongva and Tataviam Tribal Nations{{Cite news|last=Licas|first=Eric|title=Protesters in L.A. topple statue of Junipero Serra, who helped colonize California|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/06/20/protesters-in-l-a-topple-statue-of-junipero-serra-who-helped-colonize-california/|access-date=July 12, 2020|work=LA Daily News|archive-date=July 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718052017/https://www.dailynews.com/2020/06/20/protesters-in-l-a-topple-statue-of-junipero-serra-who-helped-colonize-california/|url-status=live}} and Native/Indigenous activists{{Cite news|last=Pollack|first=Gina|title=Activists Tore Down A Statue Of Junipero Serra In Solidarity With Black Lives Matter|url=https://laist.com/2020/06/20/native_angelenos_tore_down_a_statue_of_junipero_serra_in_solidarity_with_black_lives_matter.php|access-date=July 12, 2020|work=LAist|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630090950/https://laist.com/2020/06/20/native_angelenos_tore_down_a_statue_of_junipero_serra_in_solidarity_with_black_lives_matter.php|url-status=live}} in solidarity with the George Floyd protests in June 2020.{{Cite news|last=KABC|date=June 21, 2020|title=Demonstrators topple statue of Junipero Serra, who helped found missions in California, in DTLA|url=https://abc7.com/6258309/|access-date=June 23, 2020|work=ABC7 Los Angeles|language=en|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621183437/https://abc7.com/6258309/|url-status=live}}
The City of Los Angeles deemed the removal an act of civil disobedience. On June 30, 2020, the city introduced a motion to address controversial statues, plaques and other symbolic honorifics.{{Cite web|publisher=City of Los Angeles|title=Council File: 20-0871|url=http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2020/20-0871_mot_06-30-2020.pdf|access-date=July 12, 2020|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714045041/http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2020/20-0871_mot_06-30-2020.pdf|url-status=live}} The park will be renamed by the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners in collaboration with local tribal communities.{{Cite news|last=Wick|first=Julia|date=October 11, 2021|title='We're sorry': L.A. moves to make amends for wrongs committed against Indigenous people|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-11/la-announces-apology-mistreatment-indigenous-people|url-status=live|access-date=October 13, 2021|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012205042/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-11/la-announces-apology-mistreatment-indigenous-people}}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Kevin |date=2021-10-16 |title=Los Angeles renames Father Junípero Serra Park, despite Catholic praise for sainted missionary |url=https://angelusnews.com/local/california/los-angeles-renames-father-junipero-serra-park-despite-catholic-praise-for-sainted-missionary/ |access-date=2023-06-11 |work=Angelus News |publisher= Multimedia Catholic News |language=en-US}}
See also
{{Portal|California|Visual arts}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|id=CQvvy4yZemA|title=Activists topple statue of Junipero Serra in Downtown Los Angeles}}
- {{YouTube|id=JZHFjoof2ag|title=Junipero Serra Statue In LA Comes Down}}
{{Monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests}}
{{Public art in Los Angeles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Junípero Serra}}
Category:1932 establishments in California
Category:Bronze sculptures in California
Category:Monuments and memorials in Los Angeles
Category:Monuments and memorials in the United States removed during the George Floyd protests
Category:Outdoor sculptures in Greater Los Angeles
Category:Sculptures of men in California
Category:Statues in California