Immediate Release

Contact

September 20, 2002

David Vossbrink, (408) 277-3515
Communications Director

Fallon Finally Arrives

Controversial statue makes its San José debut

San José, CA ---- After eight years in storage in an Oakland warehouse and fourteen years of community controversy and debate, a monumental sculpture of former San Jose mayor Thomas Fallon was unveiled this morning at its permanent home next to Pellier Park at Julian and St James streets.

The statue was commissioned by the City of San Jose in 1988 to commemorate the raising of the US flag in San Jose by Fallon in 1846 when California was still a part of Mexico.

It consists of two bronze equestrian figures that together weigh approximately 6000 pounds. The first depicts Thomas Fallon raising the flag, and the other is an unidentified figure assumed to be his aide. The artist is Robert Glen, who currently resides in Kenya. The statue was produced statue at Mariano Foundry in Piestrasanta, Italy.

“For more than a decade, the Fallon Statue has been a lightening rod of controversy and debate, but from this debate San Jose residents have gained a broader appreciation of the many strands of our history and the many ways to interpret them,” said San José Mayor Ron Gonzales.

“We have learned that there is not a single ‘history’ of San Jose, but that our history is woven from many stories, from many cultures, and from many points of view.”

The Fallon statue was originally scheduled to be installed in 1990, but in response to community concerns about its historical significance, the City Council put the project on hold. The council appointed a Historic Art Advisory Committee to recommend solutions to recognize the diverse heritages that have contributed to the history of San Jose.

The commission recommended four additional projects to accompany the Fallon statue to represent San Jose’s heritage of agriculture, the founding of the Pueblo, the life of Dr. Ernest Galaraza, and the Ohlone way. The last of these projects, the Ohlone tribute called “The Weaver’s Gift,” was installed last year, thus setting the stage for the final installation and unveiling of the Fallon statue.