Elijah Peirce Analysis

Elijah Peirce was a carver and the son of a slave. He learned how to carve when he was very young when his father gave him a pocketknife. His uncle was the inspiration for all of his carvings because he was the one who taught him how to carve. In the early 1970’s Peirce’s name became known when a Student in the Graduate Program at The Ohio State University found his art at a YMCA exhibit. Today, a statue of Elijah Peirce proudly sits on the campus of Columbus State Community College on the very street his barber shop sat. Kim Legget said “His secular carvings show his love of baseball, boxing, comics and the movies. They also reflect his interest in national politics and his appreciation for American heroes who fought for justice and liberty.

Its individual components are tied together to be visually appealing and show who Elijah was. The statue is of him carving a small object, leaning up against a baseball bat, in front of an oversized book that has the words “Elijah your life is a book and everyday is a page –E. Peirce” written largely on the left page. The statue is of him when he was 91 years old, and is made entirely of bronze. This artist did not idealize Elijah in his sculpture. This was most likely because he wanted to capture Elijah’s influence up until the time of his death. He was thought of as a mentor and inspiration to those who knew him. Some of Elijah’s “best work” was of his Book of Wood which was a book of individual scenes that ended up telling the story of Jesus. This work is important to the statue because it ties the over sized book behind Elijah to the entire sculpture. As stated before, Elijah loved baseball, so the baseball bat behind him is tied into the statue as well. According to an article on the statue “Weitzman studied photographs of Elijah Pierce, his writings, and his art in order to capture his “essence” in a pose. Because Pierce was a deeply religious man, Weitzman chose to depict Pierce deep in concentration, carving with his hands cupped around his work as if praying. (About)” None of the elements of this sculpture are randomized. The artist pulled many aspects of Elijah’s life together to get a full

which is where the barber shop Elijah owned was located. That barber shop became known as a communal gathering place. People would come not only for their haircuts, but also to discuss current news and events happening. This barbershop was a pivotal part of his life and helped him stay engaged in his community. Elijah’s sculpture is important to the community of Columbus, OH because he became known as “a friend, a spiritual advisor, and a mentor” and is remembered as a “kind, gentle, and humorous man”
This sculpture reminds me of a sculpture found in early first century BCE. Aule Metele is an Etruscan sculpture that uses roman styles. The statue of Elijah Peirce and of Aule Metele both show the figures as older men with sad looks on their face. Though the medium of this statue is bronze instead of brass they are comparable visually based on the details. In conclusion, Weitzman’s use of personal information he gathered about Elijah Peirce was what made the sculpture along with his attention to