The Helmsman (1950)
Carl Romanelli
DESCRIPTION: 9-foot high by 3-foot wide by 5-foot deep painted concrete sculpture with a 48-inch diameter wood ship's wheel, mounted on a stepped 5-foot high by 13-foot by 10-foot granite-faced plinth
Romanelli's concrete sculpture is covered with a verdigris-colored coating to simulate weathered bronze. The ship's wheel in the figure's hands appears to be authentic.
The sculpture originally served as a trademark image for the Venice Boulevard Helms Bakery - Helms delivery drivers were popularly referred to as "Helmsmen." The Helms family donated the sculpture to the Marina on October 6, 1971, and it was installed with a 5-foot high plinth at Stone Point in Burton W. Chace Park in 1975.
Romanelli's concrete sculpture is covered with a verdigris-colored coating to simulate weathered bronze. The ship's wheel in the figure's hands appears to be authentic.
The sculpture originally served as a trademark image for the Venice Boulevard Helms Bakery - Helms delivery drivers were popularly referred to as "Helmsmen." The Helms family donated the sculpture to the Marina on October 6, 1971, and it was installed with a 5-foot high plinth at Stone Point in Burton W. Chace Park in 1975.
LOCATION: Burton W. Chace Park, Stone Point, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, California, USA
