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Artist Faces Criticism Over New Times Square Mural
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 12, 2010
Modified Mar 12, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 12, 2010
Modified Mar 12, 2010
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Courtesy of the Times Square Alliance
Is this mural a step back for women? Is it taking Times Square back to its peep show days? That's what some are saying, and now 26-year-old Latina artist Sofia Maldonado is facing harsh criticism over her work that recently went up on 42nd Street.
The 92-foot mural depicts scantily clad black and Latina women, and Moldonado says it's meant to bring tourists face to face with a community "representative of Harlem, Brooklyn, and other boroughs... a side of New York most tourists don't see." But passerby told MyFoxNY that it's simply degrading, one asking, "Why are they not standing here with briefcases and cell phones or even communicating with people to show the professionalism of black and Latino women?"
Some are now calling for its takedown, and the Times Square Alliance (the group who was behind putting it up) has apologized in a statement, saying: "Since its installation, Sofia Moldanado's mural has drawn a variety of responses from New Yorkers, both negative and positive. We are sorry that some others have found it offensive or disrespectful. It certainly was not our intent." We've contacted the group to see if they are seriously considering taking it down ahead of schedule, and will update when we hear back... but in the meantime, are New Yorkers just being too sensitive?
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mural
Sofia Maldonado
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times square alliance
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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