Latest news with #GroundedintheStars'
Daily Maverick
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Times Square statue of black woman sparks some negative reactions; and more from around the world
A person poses for a picture with a statue, part of the series 'Grounded in the Stars' by London-based sculptor Thomas Price is displayed at the Times Square in New York, New York, USA, 22 May 2025. The statue has started a debate, which organizers say it is meant to confront preconceived notions of identity and representation. It is set to be in place until 17 June. EPA-EFE/SARAH YENESEL
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12-Foot Bronze Statue of Woman in Times Square 'Challenges Who Should be Rendered Immortal'
Thomas J Price is garnering attention for his latest art installation in New York City's Times Square The 12-foot bronze statue of a young woman in everyday clothes stands with confidence, a nod to Michelangelo's 'David' The British artist said he wants to 'bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity"In New York City's Times Square, a woman stands with ease and confidence amidst throngs of tourists. She just happens to be 12-feet tall. The bronze statue, entitled 'Grounded in the Stars,' is one of two art installations by British artist Thomas J Price, whose work is challenging people's assumptions about identity and representation. Creating a moment for reflection in the frenetic, body-filled public space, the young woman — dressed in contemporary clothes, but posed like Michelangelo's 'David' — has caught the attention of the art world and passersby alike. 'The intention of my public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting,' Price said in a statement posted on Times Square's website. 'Grounded in the Stars" will be on view until Tuesday, June 17, at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and 46th Street. The artist did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. 'Through scale, materiality, and posture, 'Grounded in the Stars' disrupts traditional ideas around what defines a triumphant figure,' reads the installation description, 'and challenges who should be rendered immortal through monumentalization.' Price's other work, 'Man Series,' involves stop-motion animation of the heads of sculpted male figures that appear on 95 screens in the square every night from 11:57 p.m. to midnight through the month of May. It's the latest iteration of Times Square's revered 'Midnight Moment' program, which has featured artists such as Andy Warhol and Yoko Ono. Price hopes both works — which contrast with the neighboring statues of playwright George M. Cohan and priest Francis P. Duffy, both white men — will inspire connection. The artist said he wants to 'bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.' Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Grounded in the Stars' is a fictionalized person stemming from observations and open calls that have taken place from London to Los Angeles, according to the Times Square website. Price has used the same method to create the five bronze figures featured in his exhibition 'Resilience of Scale' at Hauser & Wirth gallery in New York City, which runs until Saturday, June 14. 'If these fictional characters are from a gender or perceived race that you have decided should not be at this level,' Price told The Art Newspaper, 'and suddenly you see them presented in their gloriousness, it challenges people's internal landscapes.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Massive Statue Of A Black Woman Debuted In Times Square, And People Aren't Happy With Her Appearance
A new attraction just made its debut in Times Square, and it has a lot of people talking! A giant 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a young Black woman now sits on the north side of Duffy Square on Broadway and 46th Street facing 47th Street. The installation features the woman standing with her hands on her hips, dressed in a T-shirt and pants, as she gazes out into the open space. The statue is a part of a series called "Grounded in the Stars" by British figurative artist Thomas J. Price, in an attempt to help deconstruct preconceived notions of people's identities, while also emphasizing how Black individuals can claim their space freely, on their own terms. 'I hope 'Grounded in the Stars' will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity,' Thomas told ArtNet. 'The work is a composite fictional character, unfixed and boundless, allowing us to imagine what it would be like to inhabit space neutrally without preconceived ideas and misrepresentation." Related: "Something In My Head Said, 'Don't Get Up'": 16 Older Adults Reveal The Wildest Supernatural Encounters From Their Childhood He added that the sculpture isn't based on anyone in particular, but rather a composite of images and observations. The identity was intentionally left open-ended so people can take the art piece in without assumptions and stereotypes. Unfortunately, despite the artist's intentions, the figure got a lot of people talking and generated a ton of mixed opinions online: "Times Square unveils a bronze 12 foot statue of the average American woman — and the colorblind conservative Christian patriots have lost what's left of their minds… Fun fact: The average height for women in America is around 5'3 — and the average weight is approximately 170lbs. In terms of clothing size — the average American woman typically wears a size 16 or 18.." Related: 50 Of The Funniest Stories People Shared About The "Stupidest Person" They've Met "body like bronze, presence like thunder. we need more of this energy everywhere." "Im sure people are laughing at this in Manhattan. lol." "Can yall just appreciate that it's a fuckin black woman regardless of her size or fashion style ? Gotttttdamnn.. yall would find an insult even in a bouquet of flowers.. idiots. Smh.. ITS A BLACK WOMAN STATUE IN TIMES SQUARE. Like, CLAP JUST FOR THAT REASON ALONE!" "This statue is actually mocking Black people, Black women in particular. Even Lizzo and Monique realized that the joke was on them, people was laughing at them, not with them. There are way more white women than the entire Black American race, but they decided to make it black" "Out of everything that comes to mind, the artist decided to make a heavyset Black woman, dressed in a nanny fit… & people call this art; claiming that it has a deeper meaning. yea, ok. This is pure mockery." "The statue is a beautiful gesture but this doesn't help the black community, help get accepted by the other races, & this statue doesn't celebrate us as Black Americans as a whole. We still go unrecognized by our talents, hardworking, survival, dignity & so much more." "Wife and I seen this up close on the 1st of May 2025. Good work of art!" If you're in the NYC area, you'll have the chance to view the "Grounded in the Stars" installation until June 17. What are you thoughts on the statue and Thomas's meaning behind it? Share your thoughts in the comments! And to learn more, you can read his full ArtNet interview. Also in Internet Finds: People Revealed The Creepiest, Cult-Like Towns In The United States And, Jesus Christ, It's Icky Also in Internet Finds: 27 Extremely Disturbing Wikipedia Pages That Will Haunt Your Dreams Until The End Of Your Days Also in Internet Finds: 101 People Who Woke Up One Morning And Promptly Had The Most Painfully Awkward And Embarrassing Day In Human History
Buzz Feed
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Controversial Black Woman Statue Divides Times Square
A new attraction just made its debut in Times Square, and it has a lot of people talking! A giant 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a young Black woman now sits on the north side of Duffy Square on Broadway and 46th Street facing 47th Street. The installation features the woman standing with her hands on her hips, dressed in a T-shirt and pants, as she gazes out into the open space. The statue is a part of a series called "Grounded in the Stars" by British figurative artist Thomas J. Price, in an attempt to help deconstruct preconceived notions of people's identities, while also emphasizing how Black individuals can claim their space freely, on their own terms. 'I hope 'Grounded in the Stars' will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity,' Thomas told ArtNet. 'The work is a composite fictional character, unfixed and boundless, allowing us to imagine what it would be like to inhabit space neutrally without preconceived ideas and misrepresentation." He added that the sculpture isn't based on anyone in particular, but rather a composite of images and observations. The identity was intentionally left open-ended so people can take the art piece in without assumptions and stereotypes. Unfortunately, despite the artist's intentions, the figure got a lot of people talking and generated a ton of mixed opinions online: "Times Square unveils a bronze 12 foot statue of the average American woman — and the colorblind conservative Christian patriots have lost what's left of their minds… Fun fact: The average height for women in America is around 5'3 — and the average weight is approximately 170lbs. In terms of clothing size — the average American woman typically wears a size 16 or 18.." "body like bronze, presence like thunder. we need more of this energy everywhere." "Im sure people are laughing at this in Manhattan. lol." "Can yall just appreciate that it's a fuckin black woman regardless of her size or fashion style ? Gotttttdamnn.. yall would find an insult even in a bouquet of flowers.. idiots. Smh.. ITS A BLACK WOMAN STATUE IN TIMES SQUARE. Like, CLAP JUST FOR THAT REASON ALONE!" "This statue is actually mocking Black people, Black women in particular. Even Lizzo and Monique realized that the joke was on them, people was laughing at them, not with them. There are way more white women than the entire Black American race, but they decided to make it black" "Out of everything that comes to mind, the artist decided to make a heavyset Black woman, dressed in a nanny fit… & people call this art; claiming that it has a deeper meaning. yea, ok. This is pure mockery." "The statue is a beautiful gesture but this doesn't help the black community, help get accepted by the other races, & this statue doesn't celebrate us as Black Americans as a whole. We still go unrecognized by our talents, hardworking, survival, dignity & so much more." "Wife and I seen this up close on the 1st of May 2025. Good work of art!" If you're in the NYC area, you'll have the chance to view the "Grounded in the Stars" installation until June 17. What are you thoughts on the statue and Thomas's meaning behind it? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Mint
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
GIANT 12-feet bronze statue of black woman installed in New York's Times Square. It's called ‘Grounded in the Stars'
A massive 12-feet bronze statue of a black woman has been erected at the bustling Times Square in New York City, and will be on display till June 17, 2025. Created by Thomas J Price, the artwork is titled 'Grounded in the Stars' and has been installed at the Broadway & 46th Street, according to the Times Square website. The installation, according to the site, is part of Times Square Arts Projects, and was erected on April 29, 2025. According to a Black Enterprise report, Price aimed to 'encapsulate the observations, images and open calls of New York, Los Angeles, and London'. The report calls the news installation as a 'subtle nod to Michelangelo's David and captures familiar everyday qualities through the woman's stance, countenance, and clothing'. 'I hope Grounded in the Stars and Man Series will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity,' the report quoted the London-based figurative artist as saying. Price said that the intention of his public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors 'that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting'. A 45-foot naked steel statue of a woman – weighing around 32,000 pounds – was installed in San Francisco, US, on April 10 and is set to remain in place for at least six months, with the possibility of an extension up to one year. The work, R-Evolution, is meant to symbolise female empowerment and strength, Independent reported. The artist behind the masterpiece, Marco Cochrane, said in an interview with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Agency, 'Women's presence in public art is rare. When they are depicted, it is often through outdated or passive narratives. R-Evolution challenges that. She stands strong, aware, and grounded—calling for a world where all people can walk freely and without fear.' R-Evolution is constructed from 55,000 welds of steel rod and tubing, with an additional 16,000 pounds of steel anchoring it securely. The sculpture features an internal mechanism that simulates breathing for one hour each day and is illuminated from within during the night.
