On Thursday, Los Angeles Times correspondent Matt Pearce took to Twitter with a question: “What are your favorite public statues?”
The question was pretty clearly a reference to the Confederate statue debate that it is once again at the center of the public discourse after the Charlottesville rally last week that turned violent. The responses ended up being a fun, fascinating celebration of one of humanity’s oldest art forms, celebrating a variety of statues. Some are funny and entertaining, some are sobering and thoughtful, but all point to the power of public art and the necessity that the power be used responsibly. Here are just a few selections.
Jim Henson and Kermit at the University of Maryland pic.twitter.com/uk8gdpCpwv
— Kevin Robillard (@Robillard) August 17, 2017
Make way for ducklings statue in Boston public garden. People dress them up at holidays and after/during important events. pic.twitter.com/HYaLhDMPuH
— Bittersweet ??? (@GrumpyinBoston) August 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/NicoleK8686/status/898246787466756097
https://twitter.com/spsullivan/status/898211867373568000
Similar feelings about the Famine memorial in Dublin pic.twitter.com/pwLuQptVRK
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 17, 2017
this one in Montreal which has perplexed me for years pic.twitter.com/MvOfMhL3yZ
— mr cant spell good (@KrangTNelson) August 17, 2017
It's not a "favorite," but the image has stayed with me more than most others. Shoes on the Danube in Budapest, a Holocaust memorial. pic.twitter.com/3locJw1mJT
— Ryan Schuessler (@RyanSchuessler1) August 17, 2017
earnestly, the Underground Railroad Memorial in Detroit is beautiful pic.twitter.com/4gZtOQYb1r
— Seth D. Michaels (@sethdmichaels) August 17, 2017
(In all seriousness, maybe this) pic.twitter.com/byccW6UV5t
— Mr. Mark Potts (@mrmarkpotts) August 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/Moj_kobe/status/898209197350805505
On the border of China and Mongolia there's two dinosaurs kissing pic.twitter.com/FRkMeGXHD5
— Dusty (@DustinGiebel) August 17, 2017
dr. seuss was born in the area i grew up in so we have a p cool dr. seuss statue!!!! i know dr. seuss is problematic but he had some bangers pic.twitter.com/YU7lauFuWo
— grace spelman (@GraceSpelman) August 17, 2017
oh i forgot!!! it's actually a sculpture GARDEN!!! anyway, it's good. pic.twitter.com/4sYi5o4idG
— grace spelman (@GraceSpelman) August 17, 2017
Albert Einstein is the absolute chillest of all the open-toed-sandal-wearing memorials. No one can convince me otherwise. pic.twitter.com/mQwD00wOwk
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) August 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/ruizhong67/status/898213532851982336
The statue of Phil Lynott (lead singer of Thin Lizzy) in Dublin, Ireland. Hands down. pic.twitter.com/ccDReYX2lp
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) August 17, 2017
— Mr. Mark Potts (@mrmarkpotts) August 17, 2017
Brussels Sewer Urchin Tripping Police Officer has to be up there. pic.twitter.com/8JSyo9MBnj
— Bradford Pearson (@BradfordPearson) August 17, 2017
The Kindertransport memorial at Liverpool Street station in London commemorating the Jewish children who came as refugees in 1938-39. pic.twitter.com/4ZGEjNUNaI
— Charlie Whelton (@cwhelton) August 17, 2017
The Bussa Emancipation Statue in Barbados. How different we would be if we celebrated the human spirit, not the human ego. pic.twitter.com/tcZcWDeLgC
— Black Lives Matter (@BlueInRedID) August 17, 2017
The Traveler in Orlando Int'l Airport. pic.twitter.com/pb2O7Q7yKu
— Joe G (@RedCapybara) August 17, 2017
