Sculpture Removal Controversy Research - Michelle

"Tilted Arc" (1981) - Richard Serra
Federal Plaza, Manhattan

• Described as an "ugly, rusted metal wall".
• People argued that it disrupted the flow of the plaza.
• It was commissioned with public funds, and cost $175,000.
• 1,300 employees working in Federal Plaza signed a petition to remove the "eye sore" (1989).
• The new installation ended up being a worse disruption of plaza flow. (1993)

YouTube video that followed the controversy and after:

"Sunbather" (2015) - Ohad Meromi

Long Island City, Queens

• 8ft long reclining human painted vibrant pink.
• Described as "too bright, too big, too ugly, and too expensive".
• Argued that people could become distracted and potentially cause accidents.
• Commissioned for $515,000 in public funds.
• Artist Hunt Rodriguez installed a movable sculpture created to protest the misuse of tax dollars - his art cost $300 dollars in supplies.