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Bloomberg Defends Suicide Statues
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 16, 2010
Modified Apr 16, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 16, 2010
Modified Apr 16, 2010
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Mayor Bloomberg is defending the "Event Horizon" public art project that has recently led to unnecessary 911 calls. The outdoor installation features cast iron statues of human figures, bolted to the ledges of buildings—like the Empire State Building, where just last month a man jumped to his death.
According to the NY Post, when asked if they should be taken down, Bloomberg declared, "No. It's a great exhibition. It's one of those things that gets publicity around the world, brings tourists to New York."
All in all there are 30 of Antony Gormley's statues placed on roofs and ledges in midtown, and one NYPD source says they get at least one call a day about them. Though Bloomberg said, "My understanding is that there's no record of most of the calls. There were a handful. But if you give enough press, if your arts section really writes the story of this... then people will know it's great art, including our Police Department." Is he suggesting the NYPD not respond to calls where the statues are in place?
In response, one officer asked: "Why not put statues on the corners holding guns at night? That would be fun artwork, wouldn't it?" And as for those tourist bucks being brought in, one teacher from New Jersey says when she took her 6th graders on a field trip, they "were frightened. They all screamed. They thought it was somebody who was going to commit suicide."
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Antony Gormley
esb
Event Horizon
Jumper
mayor bloomberg
public art
statue
suicide
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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