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Paul Siegell


from Jacques Lipchitz
           —for #OccupyPhilly











Author's note: "With two loyal patrons and three major public works of bronze residing in the City of Brotherly Love, Jacques Lipchitz (1891-1973), one of the 20th century's major artists, called himself "Philadelphia's chosen son." Prometheus Strangling the Vulture welcomes visitors to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Spirit of Enterprise sits beside the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, and then there's the controversial Government of the People.

At the time of the publishing of this issue of Otoliths, there are currently over 300 tents encamped at Dilworth Plaza of Philadelphia's City Hall. And counting. With the statue of William Penn standing guard, the protestors of Occupy Philadelphia are standing up. But there's also another rather large monument, just across the street in Thomas Paine Plaza, that is keeping a watchful eye as well. It's Jacques Lipchitz's Government of the People, which was designed as a symbol for democracy and dedicated during the bicentennial of the United States of America in 1976.

In light of everything that's now occurring, I think Government of the People is starting to make more sense to more people."


Paul Siegell is the author of three books of poetry: wild life rifle fire (Otoliths Books, 2010), jambandbootleg (A-Head Publishing, 2009) and Poemergency Room (Otoliths Books, 2008). Trailers are yours for the YouTube-viewing [here], and reviews are yours for the Goodreads-reading [here]. Born on Long Island,educated in Pittsburgh, employed in Orlando, Atlanta and now Philadelphia, Paulis a copywriter by day, a senior editor at PaintedBride Quarterly by choice, and more of his work can always be found at ReVeLeR @ eYeLeVeL.
 
 
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2 Comments:

Blogger rappel said...

nice intertwinings!

7:35 AM  
Blogger Paul Siegell said...

thanks so much, rosaire! really appreciate it.

6:35 AM  

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