April 13, 2016 By Jackie Strawbridge
“Sunbather,” the large pink sculpture slated for Jackson Avenue, is expected to be installed in “late summer” according to the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
The nine-foot-tall, bright pink sculpture by artist Ohad Meromi was commissioned through the City’s Percent for Art program, which dedicates one percent of the budget from City-funded construction projects (in this case a streetscape improvement) to public art.
The sculpture design sparked considerable debate within the Long Island City community and even led to new legislation regarding how Percent for Art projects are selected.
“Sunbather” received final design approvals last October and is currently being fabricated.
It will be placed at Jackson Avenue/43rd Avenue and will take about a day to install, DCLA spokesperson Ryan Max said.
12 Comments
Speechless…
When one of your neighbors dies because there’s no ambulances in LIC, be sure to thank your elected officials for giving us this pink piece of garbage instead of vital services.
And by thank, I mean they should be thrown out of office.
I’d much rather see modern art than a statue of a dead elected official.
I’d rather see good modern art.
Rearrange the letters of “Sunbather” and you get “Art be shun.”
Exactly what I’m thinking will be the reaction to this hunk of ugly by most people in LIC.
No doubt there are arts groups which could have provided rotating or seasonal displays of art for a much lower cost.
That would have given nice exposure to local artists and if you personally didn’t like the piece it would be gone in a couple of weeks or months.
I’m sure schtupping was involved.
No credit is given to local LIC
artists. Same with the Wills building on 22nd street which hired Brooklyn people to stencil their building and will call it graffiti art!!!
Seriously? Even amidst majority of people’s outrage this thing is still going up?
People’s outrage means nothing to the establishment, as we’ve discovered this political season.
That sculpture constitutes a very generous interpretation of the term “streetscape improvement.”
What a “WASTE” of money. We could use the money for better things.