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Artist looks to place car bumper sculpture in Ithaca

Artist looks to place car bumper sculpture in Ithaca

Tower made of car bumpers at SUNY Oswego. A similar sculpture is proposed in Ithaca. Photo: Saga Communications


ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — A public hearing about a proposed sculpture takes place tonight in Ithaca.

Common Council members will gather feedback on a nine-foot-tall plastic tower, which would be placed in Baker Park. The sculpture would be made of used car bumpers.

According to city documents, some residents have already expressed their disapproval in written comments. One resident said the sculpture would “take away from the natural surroundings” at the park.

Painting of the proposed tower, shown in city documents

The artist, Monica Franciscus, said the sculpture is about landfills, consumerism, and “corporations and politicians collaborating with the 1 percent determining who builds what, and societies that prioritize profit at the expense of all life on Earth.”

A similar tower by Franciscus received approval by the Common Council in January 2020. It was never installed and the approval expired.

Tonight’s public hearing begins at 6 p.m. at Ithaca City Hall.

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