Posted on Apr 21, 2017
Controversy erupts over Wall Street statue - Art - WORLD
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https://world.wng.org/2017/04/controversy_erupts_over_wall_street_statue
I was struck by the fact that the powers that be in NY City authorized the placing of a bronze statue whose placement contrasts with the original image of Bronze Charging Bull Statue which has been there since 1989. This Little Girl statue was only meant to stay a few days, after all.
Arturo di Modica told reporters the bull was designed to represent “freedom, peace, strength, power, and love.”
This reminds me of the Occupy movement in that long after a scene is established with sculptures somebody else can place a statue which changes the environment. Statues have no inherent rights and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has denied Arturo di Modica's request, who is the creator of the Charging Bull Statue, to remove the new “Fearless Girl” statue which now faces the bull.
We may well be living in a "Brave New Art World" ...
Image:
"Controversy erupts over Wall Street statue
ART | Sculptor of famous ‘Charging Bull’ says new art installation radically changes the tone of his piece
by Gertrude Too-Rom
Posted 4/20/17, 11:41 am
NEW YORK—A public art controversy is brewing on Wall Street. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has denied Arturo di Modica, the sculptor of the famous “Charging Bull” statue, his request to remove the new “Fearless Girl” statue installed facing the bull.
The “Charging Bull” monument has stood alone on Wall Street since 1989. But in March, a bronze statue of a small girl appeared, facing down the bull. The “Fearless Girl,” sculpted by Kristen Visbal, was supposed to stand in front of the bull for a few days, but now city officials say it may stay long-term.
An emotional di Modica told reporters the girl negatively changes his artistic meaning for the bull, which was designed to represent “freedom, peace, strength, power, and love.”
In 1989, di Modica built and installed the monument with his own money—and without permission. It was a gift to New York at a time when the stock market was crashing, and then-Mayor Ed Koch elected to keep the bull–which has since become an icon.
Financial investment company State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) commissioned the new statue and had it installed “to take steps to increase the number of women” on corporate boards.
During an interview with local radio station WNYC, de Blasio called the bull a celebration of unfettered capitalism.
“I think the artist has to recognize that times change. The people want to see things that represent their lives and their realities,” de Blasio said. The new statue represents “the empowerment of women. It’s been incredible—the response people have been feeling to it,” he added.
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, the tiny area around both statues was awash with a crowd of about 70 people, cars whizzing by on either side. Some crowded around the bull and some around the girl, phones and cameras out to capture the moment.
“We’re going to defend ‘Fearless Girl’ and her right to be there … particularly at this moment in history,” the mayor affirmed.
The artist has threatened a lawsuit."
I was struck by the fact that the powers that be in NY City authorized the placing of a bronze statue whose placement contrasts with the original image of Bronze Charging Bull Statue which has been there since 1989. This Little Girl statue was only meant to stay a few days, after all.
Arturo di Modica told reporters the bull was designed to represent “freedom, peace, strength, power, and love.”
This reminds me of the Occupy movement in that long after a scene is established with sculptures somebody else can place a statue which changes the environment. Statues have no inherent rights and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has denied Arturo di Modica's request, who is the creator of the Charging Bull Statue, to remove the new “Fearless Girl” statue which now faces the bull.
We may well be living in a "Brave New Art World" ...
Image:
"Controversy erupts over Wall Street statue
ART | Sculptor of famous ‘Charging Bull’ says new art installation radically changes the tone of his piece
by Gertrude Too-Rom
Posted 4/20/17, 11:41 am
NEW YORK—A public art controversy is brewing on Wall Street. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has denied Arturo di Modica, the sculptor of the famous “Charging Bull” statue, his request to remove the new “Fearless Girl” statue installed facing the bull.
The “Charging Bull” monument has stood alone on Wall Street since 1989. But in March, a bronze statue of a small girl appeared, facing down the bull. The “Fearless Girl,” sculpted by Kristen Visbal, was supposed to stand in front of the bull for a few days, but now city officials say it may stay long-term.
An emotional di Modica told reporters the girl negatively changes his artistic meaning for the bull, which was designed to represent “freedom, peace, strength, power, and love.”
In 1989, di Modica built and installed the monument with his own money—and without permission. It was a gift to New York at a time when the stock market was crashing, and then-Mayor Ed Koch elected to keep the bull–which has since become an icon.
Financial investment company State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) commissioned the new statue and had it installed “to take steps to increase the number of women” on corporate boards.
During an interview with local radio station WNYC, de Blasio called the bull a celebration of unfettered capitalism.
“I think the artist has to recognize that times change. The people want to see things that represent their lives and their realities,” de Blasio said. The new statue represents “the empowerment of women. It’s been incredible—the response people have been feeling to it,” he added.
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, the tiny area around both statues was awash with a crowd of about 70 people, cars whizzing by on either side. Some crowded around the bull and some around the girl, phones and cameras out to capture the moment.
“We’re going to defend ‘Fearless Girl’ and her right to be there … particularly at this moment in history,” the mayor affirmed.
The artist has threatened a lawsuit."
Art
Pop Culture
New York City
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I dunno... I kinda like it. Same old bull, new context. Speaks to a lot of things.
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Here is some additional background on the Charging Bull bronze statue. "In the early morning hours of Friday, December 15, 1989, Arturo with a few friends dropped the Charging Bull on Broad Street right in front of the New York Stock Exchange." By the end of the day it was removed.
Thanks to then Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association, a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. The Charging Bull stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents."
"Arturo Di Modica first conceived of the Charging Bull as a way to celebrate the can-do spirit of America and especially New York, where people from all other the world could come regardless of their origin or circumstances, and through determination and hard work overcome every obstacle to become successful. It’s this symbol of virility and courage that Arturo saw as the perfect antidote to the Wall Street crash of 1986.
Arturo worked on the now world-famous Charging Bull for over two years at his studio on Crosby Street in the Soho district of Manhattan. It was his most ambitious and massive work of sculpture to date, so large that the Bull had to be cast in separate bronze pieces and then laboriously welded together and hand finished. Once completed at the end of 1989, it weighed over three and a half tons and measured 18 feet long.
Of course, only one place would do for this gift of encouragement to New York and the world.
In the early morning hours of Friday, December 15, 1989, Arturo with a few friends dropped the Charging Bull on Broad Street right in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The previous night he’d gone to the location with a chronometer to check – noting that every 5 – 6 minutes the police patrol would come by, so he saw he’d have to drop the bull and get away within 4 ½ minutes. But on the actual morning of the operation, Arturo and his crew discovered that during the day the NYSE had installed a large Christmas tree, blocking the way. Arturo couldn’t even turn the truck around. So on the spot Arturo decided to place the Charging Bull right under the tree, as a gigantic Christmas present for the City and the World. The next day the Charging Bull was news all around the world, and enormous crowds of excited onlookers and media surrounded the mysterious sculpture that had come from no one knew where.
The sculpture was removed at the end of the day by the NYSE, but thanks to then Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association, a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. The Charging Bull stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents."
http://chargingbull.com/chargingbull.html
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio
Thanks to then Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association, a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. The Charging Bull stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents."
"Arturo Di Modica first conceived of the Charging Bull as a way to celebrate the can-do spirit of America and especially New York, where people from all other the world could come regardless of their origin or circumstances, and through determination and hard work overcome every obstacle to become successful. It’s this symbol of virility and courage that Arturo saw as the perfect antidote to the Wall Street crash of 1986.
Arturo worked on the now world-famous Charging Bull for over two years at his studio on Crosby Street in the Soho district of Manhattan. It was his most ambitious and massive work of sculpture to date, so large that the Bull had to be cast in separate bronze pieces and then laboriously welded together and hand finished. Once completed at the end of 1989, it weighed over three and a half tons and measured 18 feet long.
Of course, only one place would do for this gift of encouragement to New York and the world.
In the early morning hours of Friday, December 15, 1989, Arturo with a few friends dropped the Charging Bull on Broad Street right in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The previous night he’d gone to the location with a chronometer to check – noting that every 5 – 6 minutes the police patrol would come by, so he saw he’d have to drop the bull and get away within 4 ½ minutes. But on the actual morning of the operation, Arturo and his crew discovered that during the day the NYSE had installed a large Christmas tree, blocking the way. Arturo couldn’t even turn the truck around. So on the spot Arturo decided to place the Charging Bull right under the tree, as a gigantic Christmas present for the City and the World. The next day the Charging Bull was news all around the world, and enormous crowds of excited onlookers and media surrounded the mysterious sculpture that had come from no one knew where.
The sculpture was removed at the end of the day by the NYSE, but thanks to then Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association, a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. The Charging Bull stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents."
http://chargingbull.com/chargingbull.html
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio
Charging Bull NYC by Artist Arturo Di Modica
Arturo Di Modica first conceived of the Charging Bull as a way to celebrate the can-do spirit of America and especially New York, where people from all other the world could come regardless of their origin or circumstances, and through determination and hard work overcome every obstacle to become successful. It’s this symbol of virility and courage that Arturo saw as the perfect antidote to the Wall Street crash of 1986.
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Yes, it's interesting as art but you can't miss the "story". The bull is tamed by the young feminine figure. Virility is out. That's the problem with ideologues. Everything is about messaging which is why the Left has focused its efforts on the popular media. "Popular" being that which is in the public eye.
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