There’s a Massive, Illicit Bust of Edward Snowden Stuck to a War Monument in Brooklyn
By Bucky Turco |
While most people slept, a trio of artists and some helpers installed a bust of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in Brooklyn on Monday morning. The group, which allowed ANIMAL to exclusively document the installation on the condition that we hide their identities, hauled the 100-pound sculpture into Fort Greene Park and up its hilly terrain just before dawn. They fused it to part of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, a memorial to Revolutionary War soldiers. As of press time, the sculpture was still there.
The idea for the Snowden tribute was conceived about a year ago by two New York City-based artists with a history of pulling off notable public interventions. They linked up with a renowned sculptor on the West Coast who was sympathetic to their cause. The artists admit that Snowden probably wouldn’t approve of the project, since he never wanted the leaks to be about him, but they hope he’d understand why they did it. In a statement about the project, which they have entitled, “Prison Ship Martyrs Monument 2.0,” they wrote:
Fort Greene’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument is a memorial to American POWs who lost their lives during the Revolutionary War. We have updated this monument to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies. It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA’s 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light. All too often, figures who strive to uphold these ideals have been cast as criminals rather than in bronze.
Our goal is to bring a renewed vitality to the space and prompt even more visitors to ponder the sacrifices made for their freedoms. We hope this inspires them to reflect upon the responsibility we all bear to ensure our liberties exist long into the future.
In 2013, the Snowden leaks exposed an expansive, covert surveillance program that spied on U.S. citizens, residents and even persons abroad, the likes of which the world had never before seen. While activists and a number of journalists have hailed Snowden as a hero, conservatives and politicians have called him a “coward” and a “traitor.” Snowden sought asylum in Moscow, where he remains in exile.
The artists said they’re dismayed that despite the trove of damning evidence the leaks exposed, the public has largely moved on from the story and no substantial actions have been taken against the NSA. “There’s a media landscape that has painted him as a criminal,” said one of the two New York artists. “You need something theatrical and large to counterbalance the Fox News-iness of the texture of the conversation out there.” At first, the pair thought about making a full-size statue of the former NSA contractor, but were later talked down from that idea by the sculptor. He recommended a bust.
Measuring 4-feet tall, Snowden’s head was placed atop one of the four columns that lie at the monument’s edge, above the eagles. The bust is made of hydrocal, a high quality sculpting material that’s commonly used in places like Las Vegas to create Roman-looking things, castles and other mega props casinos incorporate into their facades. Seeing it up close, you could never tell that you were looking at a plaster-like substance. In fact, over a dozen people walking their dogs passed by the new bust on Monday morning without noticing the unsanctioned piece. Both the color and design of the bust expertly matches the existing sculptures there, from its bronze patina finish to Snowden’s hair — which mimics the texture of the feather on the eagle. The artists also added letters spelling out Snowden’s name in an official-looking font befitting of a monument.
While it was very important that the piece be more than just a prop or paper mache effigy, the artists didn’t want to damage the surface that the bust would be bound to, either. After some debate, they decided on an adhesive that would firmly hold the head in place, yet could be removed without marring the monument.
The materials needed to create a bust of this type cost thousands of dollars, and the pair ponied up the cash. It then took a little over six months to sculpt, mold, cast and ship to New York. Had the sculptor charged market rates, he said it would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. “The amount of work that goes into this kind of stuff, it’s easily a 30 grand project,” said the 30-something sculptor. “If it were bronze, it could be a $100,000 piece of artwork, maybe more.”
The artists are fully aware of the bust’s inevitable destruction and have left themselves a few options, including one that involves deploying an army of mini-Snowden heads. “We have a full size mold that can be poured again and its been 3D rendered, so we have the ability to print smaller ones at scale,” they said.
(Video/Photos: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)
+1000! Right on..
MA
The city wasn’t all too pleased at this artistic expression against the American surveillance state. NBC News New York reports that:
City workers were sent to remove a large bronze bust of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden after it was placed atop a statue in a Brooklyn park Monday morning.
I like this type of physical action to push back against the establishment. Snowden is a hero of the people and deserves to be treated as such, regardless of how the administration may view him.
Love this!
This post goes along with the Decisions Post about what we need to do. We all know demanding or demonstrations or voting don’t mean shit, maybe this is what needs to be done, we just make a mockery of the story’s they try to pass off as truth.
Flip a finger to TPTB and stop voting and maybe they will just go away. Aw fuck it, I know, just a dream…
Im personally a fan of Snowden, but I’m fairly certain, I’m a member of a minority group on this one.
After an hour-long interview with NBC Nightly News last week, whistleblower Edward Snowden remains a confounding figure for most Americans.
A new poll conducted by NBC News shows that 34 percent of Americans oppose Snowden’s decision to leak top-secret information from the National Security Agencybefore fleeing the country. Just 24 percent of all respondents support Snowden’s actions, the poll found.
When it comes to Snowden personally, after his head-to-head with Brian Williams, twice as many people said they dislike the 30-year-old exile than those who said they like him: Just 13 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Snowden as a person, compared to 27 percent who do not.
Snowden enjoys the strongest support among American respondents ages 18 to 29. Of those, 32 percent support him, while 20 percent do not. All other age groups showed more opposition for Snowden than support.
When compared to a similar NBC poll of June last year, however, Snowden comes out looking slightly better. Shortly after he revealed himself to the world, three times as many respondents had a negative opinion of the former NSA worker than those who liked him.
Perhaps a more worrying figure for Snowden and his supporters is the number who have no opinion at all: 47 percent of respondents said they simply don’t know what to think of Snowden. And nearly a third (27 percent) of respondents had not even heard about Snowden or the leaks.
@ Sensetti re: poll
“A new poll conducted by NBC News shows that 34 percent of Americans oppose Snowden’s decision to leak top-secret information from the National Security Agencybefore fleeing the country. ”
I wonder how many of those respondents knew of or considered the material that was leaked and the prospect of the tyranny that it represents. That’s ultimately the deciding factor whether Snowden should be considered a hero or villain. Those who fear the creepy, creeping, invasive nature of our ruling class view him as a hero. Those who don’t will be led to slaughter. Baaaaaaa!
“A new poll conducted by NBC News shows that 34 percent of Americans oppose Snowden’s….”
They never tell the form of the question they asked, or how many people they asked. 34% of Americans my ass.
100% of 1,200 dumb ass people that know more about Kimmy or Taylor Swift love lives than they do about Edward Snowden.
Took a lot of class and guts. +1,000 Spot on
Love it! They should sell plastic replicas that people can buy and put on their front lawns, right next to the flag-waving idiots who dislike Snowden. Or how about flags with Snowden’s face on it – hoist those suckers up!
Sensetti – “47 percent of respondents said they simply don’t know what to think of Snowden. And nearly a third (27 percent) of respondents had not even heard about Snowden or the leaks.”
27 per cent had not even heard about him? Wow. Jimmy Fallon and Kimmel, Kard-whatevers, yes, they know who they are. Sad commentary.
Maybe the Snowden bust is the new Guy Fawkes mask.
Bottom line, If it’s not a sports team or social media craze Americans don’t give a shit!
If you trust Obama or if you trust Dick Cheney, trust the government. If not you had better listen to what Snowden says.
I once priced a bronze garden fountain, well I still don’t have one. I would give a guess that the cost would be minimum 250K to 300K. Maybe a lot more, just seems whoever did that would have had a clue that it would be short lived.
Seems a little fishy to me, just saying.
Wow, I haven’t seen anything so doomed to failure, yet so painfully beautiful since the Ron Paul campaigns.
And when I say failure, I mean by conventional standards. When it comes to hearts and minds, it’s a triumph!
I am humbled by their spirit.
Awesome prank!
Awaiting the police report from a salvage yard of someone trying to scrap out the usual 4 man-hole covers, 3 catalytic convertors, 2 air conditioners and some strange bust. Concerned only about the bust.
Ride a bike?…get put on the gangster list.
MSNBC correspondent Jeremy Lancaster bluntly asked the following question,” Mr. Cornia, if I were to make the statement, all registered motorcycle owners are currently showing on a classified FBI gang list, would the statement be true or false?” Cornia responded by saying, “That would be a true statement, the FBI has been collecting and compiling Department of Motor Vehicles and Drivers License Division records for the purpose of adding those that own motorcycles to a classified gang list since 1994.” … Lancaster asked how individuals can find out if they are on this classified gang list to which Cornia responded, “Did you register a motorcycle or obtain a Class M license anytime between the year 1994 and 2015? If so, than you are on the list.” … “the purpose of the list is to collect and utilize data, not to create consequences. Aside from notifying law enforcement that you are a registered motorcycle owner or operator, it can show up to potential employers on select background checks.”
http://washingtonpost.com.co/fbi-admits-all-registered-motorcycle-owners-are-on-classified-gang-list/
saw the FBI biker list over @ http://www.woodpilereport.com/.
After reading the source I think it bullshit .