Bloomberg Defends Suicide Statues

Photo via HelloTurkeyToe's Flickr

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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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on April 16, 2010 3:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Landor

If somebody successfully missed the blanket media coverage, and they didn't see any of the lower level statues first, and they didn't realize that the monochromatic figure was immobile, and a knowledgeable passerby didn't clue that person in, and they end up calling 911, will the statue jump?

potsmoker

statues, waterfalls and oraneg curtains brings tourists to nyc...i want some of what hes smoking!!!

Jen S

This project would be great on smaller buildings, maybe 3 floors high at most. But it's truly irresponsible to cause this amount of alarm. Bloomie just can't admit when he's wrong.

boomshanka

I like the exhibit, but still admit that the one on the ESB shows a poor sense of timing so soon after the last jumper.

Guest

Maybe the jumper showed a poor sense of timing. I'm sure this was planned WAY before his irresponsible and uncouth ass decided to jump.

bobchadwick

You know, at first I thought this was a terrible idea, but after reading that hilarious quote from the teacher, I'm glad they did it.

Mordicai

Stop being idiots, people. This is art, & they are clearly statues. What are you, like, half-blind jumpy tourists who freak out at the slightest provocation?

I saw the gates & they were orange! ORANGE IS THE COLOUR OF CAUTION! I WAS SCARED, ARE THERE HUNTERS?

mdow

an entirely appropriate response to those "bothered" by these statues, i.e. their own ignorance and idiocy.

Mr. Shankly

Bad idea jeans.

jaycjay

"Is he suggesting the NYPD not respond to calls where the statues are in place?"

Probably not. He's a pretty smart guy, if he wanted to suggest that he'd be capable of saying something that implied it.

How about this? If 911 operators and precinct desks all knew about the statues, they could ask callers who report seeing a jumper to look carefully to confirm that it's not just a statue. If they knew the precise locations, so much easier.

MEDICNYC

Police/Fire/EMS will be sent anyway. Do you think the 911 operator is going to take the responsibility and heat by taking some dumb fuck's word who is 1,000 feet below the maybe statue or maybe jumper because he said "well I guess I looked closely enough and it probably is just the statue." What they will likely do is when the job comes over have a foot post or just one car only respond as an initial response and scope out the situation. But someone will always respond even if it is just one police car and/or one ambulance. Ambulances do use lights and sirens to get to Jumper Up calls so we would likely be cancelled by the police if it turned out to be bullshit anyway.

ozik

LIke I said in the previous article: The response folks know where the statues are, if they are called in to respond to a suicide threat in that area that matches the profile...

ProfessorVonNostren

The ones around Madison Square Park are great. And, there are a couple of statues at ground level to get your attention and figure it out. I thought the pieces obviously looked like statues, but then again, I was aware of their presence before I saw them.

robingee

"Why not put statues on the corners holding guns at night? That would be fun artwork, wouldn't it?"

Someone always overreacts like this. Next thing you know, they'll be marrying dogs!

Guest

why not put labels at the bottom of the buildings?

Papercutninja

i can't say i agree with the whole "tourists" thing. No one, no matter how stupid is going to say "Hey y'all lets go see them suicide statues in New York CIty."