A New Living Room For Monument of Christopher Columbus

Discovering Columbus Living Room Exhibit, at Columbus Circle, referred to by most New Yorkers as West 57^th Street, Columbus Circle, is a circuitous landmark site that encompasses W.57th to W.59th at Central Park West. Now stands a scaffold that holds captive the monument made of marble of Christopher Columbus within an 810 square foot living room. The exhibition titled: Discovering Columbus – Living Room, September 20 – November 18, 2012, designed by Artist Tatzu Nishi.

I didn’t have the time to wait in a rather long line to venture on a scaffold  six flights of stairs to the living room where the marble statue of Christopher Columbus, stands 75 feet atop a granite rostral column and was designed by the Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo. The statue was unveiled in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas.

 In the past I have favored public art exhibits in Manhattan. However, I find this withholding and scaffolding obtrusive keeping the original statue at this prominent location in Columbus Circle from public sight. It is recognized that Mayor Bloomberg has always supported public art exhibitions, which encourages a cultural flavor of distinction in Manhattan. However, I walked downstairs to the Columbus Circle subway station and saw this homeless person hiding, not behind his public funded living room, but rather what appeared to be his entire life in black garbage bags. I just couldn’t help but wonder what is more significant a person made of flesh or an exhibit that is holding captive a monument residing in an 810 square foot living room, which is larger than many NYC apartments.  

The Public Art Fund a nonprofit organization that presents art within the city is raising money and doesn’t disclose their budgets. The city’s Cultural Affairs Department is giving more than $1 million for the restoration; cleaning of the Sardinian granite base and column on which the statue rests is already under way. Yes, this  public funding allows innovative exhibitions. I also understand the cleaning of the granite column is underway although, there is speculation as to how long it will require to clean the marble statue that stands 13 feet; while the actual cleaning of the monument will not begin until the exhibition closes.

I realize after living in NYC for many years that there are shelters for the homeless, but this living room is almost an insult to the artist that created a vision for everyone to see, and although I didn’t have an opportunity to witness the inside from everything I read there is a coffee table, French lamps, purple couch, flat-screen television, as well as custom pink wallpaper of Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe, and Martin Luther King Jr., Mickey Mouse, illustrated by the artist and copies of Mayor Bloomberg's magazine, Business Week to peruse while you gaze at Christopher Columbus in his new digs.

Before it opened on Sept. 20^th, the exhibition required multiple approvals from the Buildings Department, including permits to erect a temporary structure, for equipment, for construction and exhibition fencing and one for an elevator, which is required under the law to provide access for the disabled. 

*One Voice Coalition's Andre Dimino, told WCBS-TV that he is disappointed that the statue won't be visible during the annual Columbus Day Parade in October, calling the exhibit a "disgrace." - CBS News/ September 20, 2012, 2:18 PM

*Not everyone is a fan. John Mancini, executive director of the Italic Institute of America, said the artwork turns the 1892 statue by Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo into "a stage prop. "How can one artist hijack the work of another artist?" He complained.  - Published October 08, 2012 Associated Press