Whale (sculpture) explained

Whale
Type:	Sculpture
Material:	Cedar
Subject:	Whale
Height Imperial:	4
Width Imperial:	3.5
Length Imperial:	10
Metric Unit:	m
Imperial Unit:	ft
Condition:	"Treatment needed" (1993)
City:	Cannon Beach, Oregon, United States
Coordinates:	45.9002°N -123.9612°W
Mapframe:	yes
Mapframe-Zoom:	13
Owner:	City of Cannon Beach

Whale is an outdoor wooden sculpture of a gray whale, located in Cannon Beach, Oregon, United States.

Description

Whale is a 9feet sculpture installed at,^[1] and the namesake of, Whale Park (or Hemlock Street Park),^{[2] [3]} located at the north end of downtown Cannon Beach. The sculpture commemorates the visit by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's Corps of Discovery in January 1806, including William Clark and Sacagawea, who explored the area to investigate reports of a beached whale.^{[4] [5]} It measures 4feet x 3.5feet x 10feet and is positioned horizontally on top of two metal posts anchored in a concrete base which is 2feet tall. The whale's head and tail are elevated. The underside of its proper right flipper contains an unintelligible signature by the artist which may read "Hartwick".^[2] The original artist that carved the wood sculpture was Gregory Alan Hartwick.

The original cedar sculpture has since been replaced by a cast metal replica.^[6]

History

The sculpture's condition was deemed "treatment needed" by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in November 1993. It was administered by the City of Cannon Beach at that time.^[2] Whale has been included in at least one published guided tour, called "Oregon's Coast, Mountains, Columbia River Gorge and Wine".^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Chill out in Cannon Beach. November 28, 2014. 149. 242. Rome News-Tribune. October 11, 1992. February 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220203133356/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19921011&id=sVYwAAAAIBAJ&pg=5076%2C2730473. live.
2. Web site: (Whale), (sculpture).. Smithsonian Institution. November 28, 2014. December 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206085449/http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!330126~!0#focus. live.
3. Web site: Public Art Committee: Proposals for the 2014 Public Arts Program. City of Cannon Beach. November 28, 2014. December 6, 2013.
4. Coast Explorer:
   • Must See Spots for Your Cannon Beach Visit. Coast Explorer. December 8, 2010. Explorer Media Group, Inc.. November 28, 2014. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205080152/http://coastexplorermagazine.com/features/top-attractions-and-must-see-spots-in-cannon-beach-oregon. live.
   • The Coastal Experience at Cannon Beach. Coast Explorer. January 19, 2011. November 28, 2014. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205075323/http://coastexplorermagazine.com/features/experience-the-coast-at-cannon-beach-or. live.
   • Coastal Culture in Cannon Beach. Coast Explorer. January 17, 2014. November 28, 2014. Explorer Media Group, Inc.. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205080000/http://coastexplorermagazine.com/features/2196-coastal-culture-in-cannon-beach. live.
5. News: Bengel. Erick. Whale Park gets a makeover. November 28, 2014. The Daily Astorian. Astoria, Oregon. 0739-5078. July 30, 2014. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205163254/http://www.dailyastorian.com/CBG/news/20140730/whale-park-gets-a-makeover. live.
6. Web site: Public Art in Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast. www.cannonbeach.org. 2017-01-08. 2017-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109022437/http://www.cannonbeach.org/explore/Public-Art-in-Cannon-Beach-on-the-Oregon-Coast. live.
7. Web site: Oregon's Coast, Mountains, Columbia River Gorge and Wine. Pride Publications. November 28, 2014. Pathfinder Newsletter. Winter 2012. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205095102/http://www.pridepublications.com/enduserfiles/36105.pdf. live.