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CNN Live At Daybreak
New York Sculpture Sparks Controversy
Aired September 19, 2002 - 06:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Art often sparks controversy and when the subject matter is the September 11 terrorist attacks, it becomes a divisive issue. That's the case in New York right now regarding a sculpture.
Our Maria Hinojosa has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sculpture is called "Tumbling Woman." Without knowing anything about the art work, this is how some tourists responded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks like pain.
HINOJOSA (on camera): It looks like pain?
(voice-over): But once told it was a piece about September 11, this reaction.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's sad and depressing.
HINOJOSA: Then, a conservative columnist from the "New York Post" called it "shameful" and suddenly...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because this is about controversy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of art.
HINOJOSA: Reporters and cameras swooped into Rockefeller Center to see for themselves. But it was too late. The sculpture was draped in plastic, put behind curtains with security standing guard. The artist, Eric Fischl, who has done high profile work like the statue of Arthur Ashe at the National Tennis Center, describes the work like this.
ERIC FISCHL, ARTIST: It's a metaphor for a world turned upside down. It takes the form of a woman because I felt that being, was a way of expressing a kind of profound vulnerability. I wasn't trying to make a sensational image of the horror. I was simply feeling this incredible loss of grounding.
HINOJOSA: The piece had been on display since September...
(INTERRUPTED FOR BREAKING NEWS)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 19, 2002 - 06:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Art often sparks controversy and when the subject matter is the September 11 terrorist attacks, it becomes a divisive issue. That's the case in New York right now regarding a sculpture.
Our Maria Hinojosa has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sculpture is called "Tumbling Woman." Without knowing anything about the art work, this is how some tourists responded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks like pain.
HINOJOSA (on camera): It looks like pain?
(voice-over): But once told it was a piece about September 11, this reaction.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's sad and depressing.
HINOJOSA: Then, a conservative columnist from the "New York Post" called it "shameful" and suddenly...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because this is about controversy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of art.
HINOJOSA: Reporters and cameras swooped into Rockefeller Center to see for themselves. But it was too late. The sculpture was draped in plastic, put behind curtains with security standing guard. The artist, Eric Fischl, who has done high profile work like the statue of Arthur Ashe at the National Tennis Center, describes the work like this.
ERIC FISCHL, ARTIST: It's a metaphor for a world turned upside down. It takes the form of a woman because I felt that being, was a way of expressing a kind of profound vulnerability. I wasn't trying to make a sensational image of the horror. I was simply feeling this incredible loss of grounding.
HINOJOSA: The piece had been on display since September...
(INTERRUPTED FOR BREAKING NEWS)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
