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FYI: You Can't Dress Up NYC Statues To Look Like Tourists
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 27, 2011
Modified Jul 27, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 27, 2011
Modified Jul 27, 2011
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Brooklyn artist Leon Reid IV launched a Kickstarter campaign this month in the hopes of dressing up the George Washington statue in Union Square (as he once did with Abraham Lincoln overseas). Specifically, Reid wanted to add props like an "I ♥ NY" hat, a subway map, and local shopping bags to make "a comic reflection of New York's tourist industry and spark public curiosity as to Washington's role in New York City history." Art In Odd Places was hoping to include the piece in their festival in October, and called Reid's work "very intelligent." But the city doesn't think so.
According to DNAInfo, Reid's Tourist-In-Chief statue isn't gonna happen, because the Parks Department doesn't allow dressing up public statues! (Although Gandhi seemed to like his knitwear last year). The agency says they've officially denied Reid's request, but Reid has raised more money than he hoped to via his campaign, so maybe he still has plans to follow through... for now, he's not talking.
Tagged
george washington
kickstarter
leon reid
leon Reid IV
parks department
statue
statues
tourist in chief
union square
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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