Description of the Monument
Each sculpture harnesses symbolic representations of Asia, America, Europe and Africa which are situated atop of pedestals displayed in front of the building. Asia can be found at the far left when facing the building, American and Europe adorn each side of the main entrance and Africa is located on the far right. Every continent has various other elments from ships to tigers, religious symbols and stereotypical imagery leaving interpretation to the viewer.
Physical location of the monument
The four sculptures are located in the front entrance of a building which houses the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court and the National Museum of the American Indian.
Historical Context/Background
The United States Custom House was a place where the federal customs assessed, collected taxes on imported goods, controlled carriers of imports and exports collected in New York City. It later became the Alexander Hamilton U. S. Custom House named after Alexander Hamilton to commemorate one of the founding fathers and the very first Secretary of Treasury. The Tarsney Act of 1893 allowed for outside private architects to design federal buildings (U.S. General Services Administration). Cass Gilbert was chosen as the architect for his design using the elaborated Beaux Art style, a style which incorporates French neoclassicism, gothic and renaissance elements. The significant decorative sculptures designed by Daniel Chester represents the four continents Asia, America, Europe and Africa despite its various misrepresentation.
Commissioning of the Monument
The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is a building in New York City built in 1902–1907 by the federal government, Daniel Chester French dedicated the Four Continents to house as part of the building’s design.
Artist(s) who created the work
Daniel Chester French is the sculpture of the Four Continents was designed to represent international commerce. Female figures adorn large pedestals characterizing Asia which is meant to be seen as where the world’s major religions begin, America who’s torch is seen as a symbol of liberty and enlightenment. Subsequently this building happens to be within walking distance of viewing the Statue of Liberty with her very own torch, as seen as the first image of enlightenment for visitors and immigrants alike who embarked on a journey come to America for the very first time. Europe categorizes a figure of intelligence and Africa who’s portrayal represents the racial disparity of how Americans viewed Africa.
Describe what message it is conveying
The message the sculptures are conveying is of one person’s point of view. Daniel Chester French created masterful pieces each representing four unique continents of the world and how he envisioned their meaning. His interpretation is by his own understanding and not of the actual continent. Would Asia find his representation of a female holding a lotus flower, with a tiger a beautiful definition of their entire continent. Will Africa see his meaning that out of all the statues their female representation is topless and appears sleeping. The location of each statue appears to define how each continent was viewed, is this due to how Americans viewed themselves including what would appear their European partners. Europe’s statues seems of royalty when the location of these sculptures are located in a park which was once owed by the same King that America fought to gain it’s freedom and who vandalized by removing the crowns off the fence which are still seen today. Finally we have America who stands prominently ready to take part in any battle as what would become America’s actual stance, ready at a moment’s notice. It is clear that America, it’s art and people recognized themselves as the one true superiority and everyone else was inferior.
Recommendation: (Remain, Remove, Re-contextualize)
The statues can remain with one except of re-contexualizing the sculpture chosen to represent America. If we choose to keep the statue as it stands then there should be a plaque installed to add more historical context of America’s involvement and treatment of Native Americans. I suggest an overhaul removal of the entire National Museum of American Indian. Native American in today’s society should not have to visit a site that represents a historical part of their existence and American history and feel distraught having to look up and see Christophe Columbus. More importantly one version has already been institutionalized for centuries supplemented by the actions in believable of racial superiority, it is far time for more additional content focusing on the interpersonal aspect of Native American history, culture and experience told unapologetically despite the complicated institution already built within the Unites States.
Experience and Insights (using the scientific method)
What observations did you make?
America feels guilty just as much as it feels ignorant. Racial superiority is unequivocally present in today’s society as it was in the past. For instance there is not a single prominent statue outside of the National Museum of the American Indian building that conveys Native heritage or culture. There is little to no evidence of Native American dedication outside of a plaque, banner, and few unique sculpted adornments scattered among the ledges outside of the building. As a matter of fact they have a common theme, stereotypical classification of the American Indian. Instead they approve of having a museum in which honors a part of American history as it rightfully so, instead they take whats appears as a sample of approved content coexisting with what is more important of showcasing a specific story being told. A grand rotunda features an interior mural depicting ships entering the New York Harbor; a nod of chronicling the journey of the building as it was once known as the New York Custom House, most notably in particular there exist a painting of Christopher Columbus. Even more confusing is how heartless, insensitive and ignorant history continues to synonymously link Christopher Columbus to Native Americans as though he is not condemned, detested and hated as an enslaver and murderer of Native Americans.
What questions or inquiries came to mind?
Why is there no indication of Native American history, culture or language featured as part of the four monumental sculptures representing four separate continents have any connection to Native or Indigenous people? I completely understand that this building is an extended branch of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, that it was once the New York Custom House, possibly chosen due to it’s historic landmark designation, however if The Anne Frank House who’s purpose is to increase the awareness of Anne Frank’s life for all over the world to experience. Then there is no excuse at a possibility to designate a location using anthropologic methods to create a rightful Native American Museum connecting New York City to a part of history. As a matter of fact, collaborating with actual members, artists with Native American backgrounds would provide beneficial results, besides just the term American Indian demeans a culture that does not need America to clarify what Native people meant to this country.
Hypothesis based on my thinking
If it were not for the fact that this nation’s dominance over the landscape, in which a certain historical quote their vivacity and activity of mind are equal to ours … they are formed in mind as well as in body, on the same module with the Homo sapiens Europæus (Jefferson, 1781), you would come to believe that all men were created equal. Nevertheless society’s erroneous view on Native Americans as submissive, or stereotypical savages has never changed. United States wanted more land; initially their first idea use the civilization policy, they cleverly thought they can subtlety steal it. Secondly the Indian Removal Act was passed enacting the removal of free people from their lands and property. Natives were seen as savages, America’s reflection shifted its view to one based on race. The expansion of American territory caused the government to appeal to revolutionary period gradual demographic giving citizens “white male citizens” legal empowerment to take what they had. Whites force them out of their homes, invaded their lands, killed thousands and stole their property which never belonged to them. The fact that Jefferson altered his opposition on Native Americans depicted society’s shift about their existence as a race and not of free people, he states they have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire to improvement which are essential … Established in the midst of another superior race, they must necessarily yield (Jackson, 1833). Particularly, as seen by the Theodore Roosevelt Statue found at the entrance of the American Museum of Natural History. Most notably in the same museum there is an exhibit specifically detailing the inaccuracy of how Native Americans are viewed by the public.
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