1973, just after completion. Photo source: private collection
1973, just after completion. Photo source: private collection
Peter Wolf Toth, a Hungarian refugee, sculpted his first monumental sculpture in 1972, a stone
Indian head in La Jolla, California. By the time he completed his second Indian sculpture, this time from an elm
stump in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, he decided to honor Native Americans by creating a sculpture in each
of the 50 states. He wanted to "bring into focus in the minds of Americans everywhere, the plight of their
nation's original citizens."
In July, 1973, 24 year-old Toth began sculpting his 7th "Whispering Giant," as they came to be called. He selected
Dunkirk, NY, as the location of his New York state sculpture after researching the history of the indigenous native
people.
One local resident says that the harbor location (north side of Route 5) of the city's sculpture was chosen
because it
was the location at which the Erie Indian people were almost annihilated by the Iroquois Confederacy.
The sculpture
was created from a dead elm trunk (the tree had stood at the corner of Fifth Street and Park Avenue in
Dunkirk, outside
the Mitchell grocery store).
The same view in 2007.
By the end of summer, 1973, the sculpture was completed. Local and Native American officials received the gift, for which
Toth accepted no fee. They installed it in its present location on Lake Shore Drive and had two dedications, one in October
1973
when it was
accepted by the city, and another in July, 1974.
1973, just after completion. Photo source: private collection.
Peter Wolf Toth went on the achieve his dream of creating a 'Whispering Giant' (so named because
each figure stands with mouth slightly open as if speaking) in each state, and also Canada.
He carves other figures for sale and continues to visit his statues that are in need of restoration.
Toth published a book in 1980 called "Indian Giver" and is working on a coffee table book.
The same view in 2007.
The Dunkirk sculpure was restored and conserved in the ealry 1990's, its base truncated likely from
rot due to exposure to water at its base. It is now mounted on a raised plinth, its base not touching the
stone.
Toth's work has inspired many people to visit each state's sculpture; some have created websites to
display their images and honor the artist.