Bronze Statues That Might Have You Calling The Cops.

t is a tough task to shock a New Yorker on the streets of Manhattan- we’ve seen it all (or at least believe we have). Out of all the things to test our boundaries, a public art installation of bronze sculptures in a park might seem odd. However, the acclaimed British artist Antony Gormley can boast this feat with his current project, “Event Horizon,” that had me joyfully caught off guard.

In his first public installation in New York, Antony has positioned male statues, which are the subjects of most his art, on building tops and sidewalks surrounding Madison Square Park and the Flatiron District. As of March 26, there are 31 nude statues, all weighing 1,433 pounds of iron and fiberglass, and modeled from Antony’s own 6’2 figure.

The sight alone is enough to shock, but what makes the project even more interesting is that it does not involve one commemorative plaque revealing the artistic intentions, or even the artist’s name. It is this ambiguity that I love the most, as it serves to remind those passing by that the real value lies in the personal experience of art -as a part of community of observers- and not necessarily the art itself. These figures might confuse or disturb you- or you might just walk right by them, unaware that they even exist. In a way it’s like many things you see in New York City, and that’s the beauty of it.

Lucky for us, we live in a digital time where no question goes unanswered. Puzzled observers can easily search for “people on rooftops madison square park?” from their smart phones to find an answer. When I entered this into Google, the first article that came up was one from the NYPD, informing the public: “Rooftop Figures Just Art, Not people in Distress.”

If one searches a bit further, they will find the Event Horizon official site, which includes tons of information as well as a blog, links to sponsor-related promotions, and an invitation to follow Madison Square Arts on Twitter (which heavily advocates Antony Gomley at the moment). Here, fans have an opportunity to become more involved with the installation, by entering their photos onto the Ace Hotel’s blog, where readers may vote on their favorite shots. The hotel is even offering a discounted “Gomely package,” which includes a disposable camera and free overnight-developing of guest’s photos.

This installation is just one of those things you must see for yourself, so get out there if you can before August 15th, the last day these iron men will guard over the area.

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