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Golda Meir at the southern end of a triangular plaza on Broadway, which was named Golda Meir Square in 1979. (Photo by Wally G)
Did you know that of the 150ish historical statues in all of New York City there are only five of real women? According to NYC Statues, Joan of Arc was the first, and the others are Eleanor Roosevelt, Gertrude Stein, Golda Mier, and Harriet Tubman — who was the last one, put up in 2007.
In 1993 the Gray Lady herself pointed out the lack of women memorialized in the city (in a cleverly titled article called "Statues, With Limitations"). They report that "of a score or more stone and metal statues of women, nearly all are either personifications (Justice, Peace, the Four Continents, Wisdom and Alma Mater) or goddesses (Minerva)... one looks in vain for female artists, reformers, politicians."
Some of these other female figures placed about town include the American Venus Audrey Munson, immigrant everywoman Annie Moore, Alice in Wonderland, Mother Goose, a few famous actresses built into the side of the I. Miller building, and of course Lady Liberty. Surely the number of real women from our past should start balancing out with the amount of dead men around this city, however. Who would you suggest be next?
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eleanor roosevelt was sooooo not a woman. and that joan of arc isn't even owned by the city! that shouldn't count!
She was not only a woman, but a great woman.
your mother was soooooo not a woman
I guess they should build statutes to honor people who cook a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
What about Aunt Jemima?
We gave them Lifetime and they forgot all about it until you brought it back up.
forthcoming: "Sex and the City" starlet statues. thanks equality!
I would like to see a statue of Margaret Corbin placed in Fort Tryon Park, where there is already a Margaret Corbin Drive. Corbin was the first woman known to take up arms on behalf of the United States. When her husband was injured, she picked up his gun and fought for the U.S.A. at the Battle of Fort Washington right here in Manhattan where Fort Tryon Park is now.
A Fran Drescher statue would be perfect for Queens.
and Rosie Perez for Brooklyn
How about Cher for Brooklyn (or at least for Carroll Gardens)?
How about a 200ft. Christine Quinn statue overlooking felixthecat2's building?
Does the Angel of the Waters count? She's by far my favorite statue in New York.
Actually, the most recent statue to be put up in the city is that of Frederick Douglass (at the northwest corner of Central Park). At the moment, the sculpture is bound up in a semi-disturbing canvass cover while the final details are finished in the construction of Frederick Douglass Circle.
So, chalk another up to the men's team, I guess.
The Harriet Tubman statue is the most recent statue of a woman.
Frederick Douglass was briefly uncovered a couple of weeks ago! He's back to being covered in the odd mummy wrapping.
This problem is easily solved. Find one of those great female sculptors out there and ask them to create a statue of their favorite woman.
Good luck with that.
Are you saying there aren't great female sculptors? Or that men can't properly create statutes of women?
I vote for Eve Shopsin. A real New Yorker.
Statues favor men??
What about mainstream history in general?
That Jane (?) Jacobs women from the village who fought against Robert Moses. Dorothy Parker. My mother, her mother.
I second Jane Jacobs. She stopped Robert Moses and his New Deal steamrollers from destroying even more of the city than he already did.
Dotty was witty, but statue-worthy? Not so much.
surprise, surprise.
Due to the profound economic crisis and city deficits, forget any new statures.
The Madonna statue was held up due to a rash of suicides at the foundry.
I'd love to know how many NAKED and allegorical statues of women there are compared to men out there. Let's face it, while women make up at least half of the fine arts today, they didn't count for even a healthy minority only 50 years ago.
FYI, that said, I'm a sculptor and available for commissions...