Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Toy Tower Update

I got more background info about the Tower of Toys from my tipster, who says, “The garden contacted The Folk Arts Museum and others in hopes that they could take Eddie Boros’ carvings and maybe maintain the sculpture, but while they showed interest, nobody could do it. Eddie himself said he didn't care what happened to the sculpture after he was gone. He said he didn't care if it was torn down.”

Due to risk of collapse, the garden voted to let The Parks Department take the sculpture. There’s a chance they will let 10 feet of it remain (it’s 5 stories tall now). They can send a cherry-picker at any time and don't need to notify the garden. Hopefully, it will stand until the celebration this Sunday, so people can say goodbye.

“We loved Eddie,” my tipster says, “and his sculpture was what he did, but it becomes like a long tenure of graffiti--eventually someone covers even the best of what you did and it's gone.” Somehow, that does make me feel a little better.


painting of Eddie in Sophie's Bar

To buy a DVD of a documentary film about Eddie Boros, email One Gun Press at sallysonegun(at)gmail(dot)com.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since Eddie himself said he didn't care what happened to the sculpture, in that case, I guess it's ok to tear the tower of toys down. But do not tear it down solely because that it's deemed to be an eyesore.

Richard Nickel, Jr. said...

I don't see why they can't landmark art - they can landmark buildings, or districts; why not sculpture?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update, Jeremiah. I feel a little better about this too. I'd like to see some of it remain. At least his art lives on at Sophie's (there's quite a bit, actually).

Anonymous said...

Even if it needs to come down, and even if he didn't mind, the corner won't be the same without it. Viva the characters of NYC! - E