Kneeling Camels
ArtistPaul Moulon
Year1928
Typecarved stone
Dimensions210 cm × 150 cm × 64 cm (84 in × 60 in × 25 in)
Location3000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coordinates43°02′20″N 87°57′06″W / 43.038893°N 87.951713°W / 43.038893; -87.951713
OwnerTripoli Shrine Temple

Kneeling Camels is a public art work by Paul Moulon located at front entrance of the Tripoli Shrine Temple, a civic organization in the Concordia neighborhood west of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The work consists of two large camels carved from stone.[1] The two sculptures were installed in 1928 at a cost of $10,000.[2]

Description

The camels flank the stairway entrance to the Tripoli Shrine Temple on West Wisconsin Avenue. The carving on each camel includes details such as reins and saddle, both with tassel decoration. Temple business administrator George Vignyvich told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that the camels are "one of the symbols used by the Shrine. Other Tripoli shrines use live camels. We use concrete ones."[3]

Information

The camels were commissioned by Louis Kuehn, a Shrine leader and founder of the Milwaukee Corrugating Company, the largest sheet metal company in the Midwest, and an organizer of the Milwaukee Rolling Mill. Kuehn arranged the commission while traveling in Europe.[2]

Reception

The camels are popular among visitors, many of whom attempt to climb on top of them for photo opportunities.[4]

Condition

Save Outdoor Sculpture! volunteers conducting a condition survey for the Smithsonian Institution urgently recommended treatment for the sculptures in 1997.[2]

References

  1. ^ Biondich, Sarah (7 October 2009). "The Tripoli Mosque: Milwaukee's Taj Mahal". Express Milwaukee. Shepherd Express. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Kneeling Camels, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  3. ^ Loohaus, Jackie (10 November 2006). "Eccentric and All Ours: 10 Oddball and Totally Milwaukee Tales". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  4. ^ Anderson, Andrea (16 February 2012). "Local 'Shriners' Gather for Fun and Philanthropy". Marquette Tribune. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
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