Allow Me
Allow Me is a bronze sculpture by John Seward Johnson II with casts displayed as public art in several cities, including Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Bath, New York. The Portland cast, also known as Umbrella Man, is installed at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Donated anonymously to the City of Portland in 1984, it depicts a life-sized man in a business suit hailing a cab and holding an umbrella. Made from bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel, it stands six feet, ten inches tall and weighs 460 pounds. The sculpture became a popular landmark and tourist attraction, and it was first majorly restored in 1995.
April 2016 © Kingofthedead · Public domain
December 2015 © Kingofthedead · CC BY-SA 4.0
© Noliver · Public domain
January 2015 © Aaron Parecki · CC BY 2.0
November 2016 © Kingofthedead · CC BY-SA 4.0
Identification | |
| Title | Allow Me |
| Alternative name | Umbrella Man |
Creator | |
| Artist | John Seward Johnson II |
Historical context | |
| Date created | 1983 |
| Model count | One of seven models/casts |
Physical characteristics | |
| Type | Bronze sculpture |
| Dimensions | 82 in × 45 in × 50 in |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.05 m) |
| Weight | 460 pounds |
Materials | |
| Materials | Bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel |
Appearance | |
| Depicted subject | A life-sized man in a business suit hailing a cab and holding an umbrella |
| Accessories | A watch and a rhubarb-colored tie |
| Pointing direction | Index finger points toward the adjacent Meier & Frank Building |
| Style | Realistic; mimics Portland pedestrians |
Location and ownership | |
| Collection | Part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection, courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council |
| Public art program | One of many works generated by Portland's Percent for Art program |
| Donation | Anonymously donated to the City of Portland in 1984 in the name of Harry H. Schwartz for public display at Pioneer Courthouse Square |
| Current location | Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Placement within site | South side of Pioneer Courthouse Square, just above the amphitheater |
History and restoration | |
| Restoration | Removed from its pedestal and sent to Stellar Artworks in Van Nuys, California for cleaning and its first major restoration in July 1995; first restoration since 1985 |
| Restoration treatment | Glassbead peening to remove bird marks, human hands, pollution, and precipitation; coated with Incralac, a lacquer-based acrylic resin |
| Restoration funding | Funded by an anonymous donor |
| Restoration participants | Art Work Fine Art Services, Industrial Craters & Packers, O'Neill Transfer Co., Smith Masonry Contractors, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council |
| Maintenance | Receives annual cold wax coatings to maintain its shine |
Significance | |
| Public image | Described as a popular icon for Portland and one of the most recognized and beloved sculptures |
| Promotional and cultural references | Featured in 2011 Sunday Parkways donor spoke cards and included among iconic images of the city; named 'Best of Portland' by Willamette Week in 2011 |
| Symbolic interpretation | For some, a symbol of the civility that shapes the city's incomplete image of itself |
| Realism commentary | Described as so realistic that people have tried to start conversations with the Umbrella Man |
| Status | Popular tourist attraction and local landmark |
| Nickname | Called the 'most photographed man in Portland' |
| Protest use | Used to display or support protests; in 2011 Occupy Portland protesters outfitted it with a peace symbol, a Guy Fawkes mask, and a 'We are the 99%' sign |
| Use | Serves as a meeting point, reference point for gatherings, and symbol of Portland and its residents |
| Reception | Well received and renowned for its realistic appearance |
| Vandalism | Vandalized in 2020 |