Tumbling Woman
Here’s an AP story about “Tumbling Woman”, a statue in Rockefeller Center which was abruptly draped in cloth and surrounded by a curtain wall
today. The statue depicts a woman with flailing arms and legs, and is meant to be a memorial to those who jumped or fell to their death from the World Trade Center
. Apparently people thought it was too disturbing.
Right.
Moving past the supposed “disturbing” nature of this, can we agree that this is perhaps the worst grammar ever used in an AP photo caption:
“This is a video still of Eric Fischl’s “Tumbling Woman,” a statue in Rockefeller Center that was meant to commemorate those who jumped or fell to their deaths from the World Trade Center, was abruptly draped in cloth and surrounded by a curtain wall on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002, in New York. The work, depicts a naked woman with her arms and legs flailing above her head will be removed from the site in response to a number of complaints.”
Comments
The sculpture almost borught me to tears, as does video footage of the terrorist attack itself. I am reminded of movie footage and stills filmed during the Holocaust in Europe. These, similarly, left an indelible impression upon my mind after I first saw them, and a consciousness that such horrors must not be allowed to recur. Thus, Fischl’s piece is of supreme importance in perpetuating the true horror of 9/11. The citizens of all those who countries who condone or actively support terror today would, in my opinion, only benefit if they were forced to view this sculpture, for terror is not simply a matter of shouting “Allah akbar!”, blowing oneself up, and going to a “glorious” death”.
Posted by: Jonathan D. Safren on September 11th, 2006 3:54 AM
I myself am an artist, and I think that it is appaling that the “Tumbling Woman” statue was removed from the Rockefeller center because it was disturbing. As artists, we can only hope to produce such incredible art work that can provoke such strong emotional responses such as those that the “Tumbling woman” received. I think that the “T.W.” is a beautiful peice that was created to remember and commemorate the bravery shown in the victims of September 11th. It is important to remember those events, every single day, and not just once a year. How can we forget it? How can we block it out? We can’t. And we shouldn’t. In my opinion, the statue should be returned to the public eye…to remind every one of what happens when you have prejudice and hatred. It should be displayed to remind everyone of what can happen when we do not stick together as Americans, of what can happen when we let our nation fall apart. But obvoiusly no one wanted to be reminded of the heart ache. No one wanted to come together, mourn together, or embrace each other. They just wanted to avoid one another and weaken the American bond. The statue’s removal is only strengthening the weakness of America.
Posted by: Sara on October 23rd, 2003 7:43 PM