Eli Siegel Monument (Baltimore, MD)
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Location
Swann Drive & Mansion House Drive (Street View – approximate)
GPS: 39° 19′ 1.16″ N 76° 38′ 29.32″ W
History
Eli Siegel was a poet and philosopher during his storied life, creating a body of work that few in his generation can match. He was also an extremely polarizing figure, gaining ardent supporters along with staunch opponents. Born in Baltimore, Siegel, however, spent most of his life in Greenwich Village, New York City. In the 1930s he was master of ceremonies for a popular poetry and jazz night, known for his charged readings of his work. When he was subsequently fired from this job he started the Aesthetic Realism movement, continuing to teach until his 1978 suicide. In 2002, a monument was dedicated in Druid Hill Park in his honor. Martin O’Malley declared August, 16, Eli Siegel day in Charm City and a generous ceremony took place at the stone’s unveiling.
Notes
The famed artist Chaim Koppelman was commissioned to create the monument. Koppelman began studying under Siegel in 1940, and is on the faculty of the Aesthetic Realism Foundation. His work, primarily sketches and drawings, can be found in the Archives of American Art.
Nearby
- William Wallace
- Columbus (Druid Hill)
- Washington (Druid Hill)
- The Repeal Statue
- Wagner Bust
- John Cook Garden & Sundial
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