The Bronze Statuettes of the 14th Street

Awards season is upon us, and The Golden Globes are one of the first events to kick it off. Having lived in New York for one such season already, since moving back from Southern California, I will inevitably wax nostalgic (again) over Los Angeles as I watch its glorious sunshine light up the movie stars on the red carpet from the other side of the country.

2012 recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement @ Golden Globes

Southern California (Orange County) sparkles in the off-season

I wanted to honour the Golden Globes from New York, so by a (large) stretch of the imagination, I came up with a topic for this post: The Bronze Statuettes of the 14^th Street– 8^th Avenue Subway. I spotted these little figurines at the stop a few weeks back and have wanted to showcase them ever since. In a nod to the Golden Globe statues, I think I have found the perfect excuse.

Rolling dice and playing cards

Pumped!

Waiting, with the rest of us

A resident rat

If you’re not familiar with these squat, bronze sculptures, they are the work of Tom Otterness and are part of his “Life Underground” series, commissioned by Metropolitan Transit Authority and Arts for Transit. They adorn the 14^th Street – 8^th Avenue subway’s main concourse and its A, C, E and L stops. You may come across a cartoon-like top-hatted figurine on a stairway balustrade as you descend the staircase, only to then find yourself face to face with a large caricature of a man, disguised as phone box, on the platform.

Crocodile’s dinner

“Life Underground” took ten years to create, and includes over 100 cast-bronze works, creatively interspersed within the subway space. There’s humour and fun behind these bronzed characters, and they are so interesting to admire and interpret whilst waiting for your ride. I am sure you will notice a general thread of a theme/s molded and etched into these sculptures, though this is not the purpose of the post.

Caught sneaking under

Money Bags

Enjoy these Teletubby-like works, and their friends. I’m off to have a glass of wine and watch the Golden Globes!

Trunking Around

Tom Otterness’ public works feature in many parts of New York and North America; with a few works on view in South Korea, the Netherlands and Germany. More info: Tom Otterness >> Public Art.