Latest news with #ArtCommission
CBS News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Another Rocky statue is coming to the city. It's going to the Philadelphia International Airport.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art steps will not be the only place in the city with a Rocky statue. The Philadelphia International Airport is set to have a Rocky statue, the public affairs manager of the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia on Thursday. The Philadelphia Art Commission unanimously voted to grant final approval of the proposed state and its placement at the airport, a spokesperson for the City Department of Planning and Development said. In an Art Commission Artwork Acquisition Approval Proposal from the Philadelphia Art Commission on July 30, the Rocky Monumental Statue is an original bronze 3 of 3 casting created by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg, as said in the proposal from PHL. The proposal also said the statue is 10 feet tall and sits on a 3-foot-tall by 4-foot-square black steel base. Schomberg, known for the Rocky statue, has a limited edition of three, according to his website. The three editions of the Rocky Monumental Statue are #1 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, #2, a private collection of Sylvester Stallone and #3 is available to purchase, which will now be at the airport. The renderings were obtained from the Art Commission, the public affairs manager said. "The Department of Aviation was approached by a partner who was aware that there is a third Rocky statue available for sale by the artist A. Thomas Schomberg," the managing principal of The Sheward Partnership said in the proposal. "The Department realized that this was a unique opportunity to enhance the guest experience by purchasing an iconic statue that is solely associated with the City of Philadelphia by its residents and people from near and far who travel to Philly to partake in its celebrity and story of triumph." Philadelphia will now have two of the three original Rocky statues. It's unclear when the statue will be at the airport. The proposal mentions that the statue will be at the airport's Terminal A-West, on the second floor concourse post TSA screening. There will be a backdrop of the airplanes for travelers to take selfies and group photos. The Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps is a tourist hotspot, admired by both natives and those new to the city. The Rocky statue at the museum is no stranger to selfies, a note from Valentine's Day secret admirer, and even being defaced with San Francisco 49ers gear. There was even a first-ever RockyFest that kicked off in December 2024 with Stallone lending his own statue. The airport is already preparing for a busy year ahead. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2026 All-Star Game and the 250th anniversary of America's Independence all coming to the City of Brotherly Love, the Philly Pride is strong.
Axios
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Philly nears final decision on Frank Rizzo statue
The yearslong legal battle for possession of Philadelphia's Frank L. Rizzo sculpture appears to be coming to an end. Why it matters: The monument of the city's former tough-on-crime mayor and police commissioner remains controversial even after it was removed from Center City at the height of the 2020 racial justice protests. Driving the news: The Frank L. Rizzo Monument Committee — which commissioned and donated the bronze sculpture to Philly in 1998 — has reached a settlement with the city over the monument, the committee's lawyer George Bochetto tells Axios. The city's Art Commission is poised to review a proposal to remove the sculpture from the city's art collection at its Wednesday public meeting. If approved, ownership of the statue would be transferred to the Rizzo committee as part of the city agreement to settle litigation, city spokesperson Bruce Bohri tells Axios. What they're saying: "This review fulfills a promise made to Philadelphians and comes after thoughtful consideration of the diverse perspectives of our residents," Bohri said. The other side: The Rizzo committee expects to take possession of the statue sometime after Labor Day. And Bochetto says the city is expected to pay $85,000 to repair damages to the statue. The city didn't comment on the potential payment. Bochetto says this is another example of the Kenney administration's overreach that is being corrected. The big picture: The review comes after a court recently reversed another order from former Mayor Jim Kenney that replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reviewing several items at Philly's national parks as part of an effort to restore monuments, statues and the like that were changed or removed since 2020. Catch up quick: The 9-foot Rizzo statue, which formerly sat outside the Municipal Services Building, was a flashpoint during the 2020 racial justice demonstrations when protesters defaced, burned and attempted to topple it. Kenney issued an emergency order to remove the statue in June 2020, citing a threat to public health, safety and welfare. The city placed the statue in storage, where it's sat ever since. The Rizzo committee filed a lawsuit to reclaim the statue soon after its removal. Context: There's long been debate over Rizzo's legacy. To supporters, he was an Italian American hero and a tough-on-crime mayor and police commissioner. To opponents, he's a symbol of racism, bigotry and unchecked brutality, particularly for those in the Black and LGBTQ communities. What to watch: The committee wants to put the monument back on display. Jody Della Barba, head of the Rizzo committee, told Axios they have at least one location in mind for it, but declined to provide further details.
