In this artwork, how is the Description and history discussed?
The Promised Land is a bronze sculpture depicting a pioneer family, including a father, mother and son, at the end of their journey. It was commissioned by the Oregon Trail Coordinating Council for $150,000 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail. The sculpture measures approximately 10 feet (3.0 m) x 5.5 feet (1.7 m) x 5.5 feet (1.7 m). The Smithsonian Institution offers the following description:Standing figures of a pioneer family, circa 1843. The parents stand to the back and their son stands between them in front. The father is bearded and wearing a long-sleeve shirt, trousers with suspenders and mid-calf boots. He points with his proper right hand and his proper left arm is around his wife, who wears a long prairie dress shawl, and apron. Her hair is in a bun, and she holds a doll to her chest in her proper left hand. The boy wears trousers with suspenders and his shirt sleeves are rolled up. He holds a Bible in his proper right hand, against his proper right leg. A wagon wheel and leaning rifle stand behind the father figure.
The sculpture was completed and copyrighted in 1993, and dedicated on March 17 of that year. According to the Smithsonian, which surveyed the work through its "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in October 1993, the sculpture was located at the Oregon History Center at 1200 Southeast Park Avenue and was administered by the Oregon Trail Coordinating Council. It was set on a laminated board base which measured approximately 2.5 feet (0.76 m) x 7 feet (2.1 m) x 6 feet (1.8 m) and weighed 3,000 lbs., and was considered "well maintained" at the time of the survey.The sculpture was installed at Chapman Square, one of the Plaza Blocks, and rested on a red granite slab which contains an inscription of a quote by Thomas Jefferson. The plaza in front of the sculpture has sandblasted black bear, coyote, elk, grouse, jackrabbit, black bear and porcupine footprints, plus moccasin prints.Portland's art commission objected to the statue as culturally insensitive at the time of its installation, arguing that its celebration of white settlers excluded other groups present in Oregon at the time and criticizing what they described as a lack of artistic merit. The Oregon Trail Coordinating Council, who had commissioned the piece, responded that works representing other groups were in progress.
Oregon Trail bronze sculpture Plaza Blocks Smithsonian Institution Save Outdoor Sculpture! Thomas Jefferson