The Art and Bodies Walking Tour provides an in-depth look into the various ways people and ideas are represented through sculptures and statues. The people and objects depicted in the statues range in significance from the most notable founding father of our country, George Washington, to the lowliest group of unnamed immigrants, to even personified animals and body parts. Some of the people portrayed in the art are portrayed as heroic and grand (Federal Hall National Memorial and The Four Continents), while others are replicated in their true, natural form (John Erickson and The Immigrants). Still other statues can be perceived as whimsical such as Ape and Cat, while others, like the Trinity Church Cemetery, are more somber.
I learned on the tour that an artist could portray an idea about a person or object by merely controlling the geometric shape and physical details of the statue. For example, the artist can praise a figure like George Washington by exaggerating the size of his features to make him appear dominant and larger than life. In a figure such as The Immigrants, the artist creates exhausted, but hopeful facial expressions on the immigrants in order to convey the struggle of these people. Another statue, Eyes, is composed of a simple geometric form, and is thus ambiguous to the viewer’s perception.
The tour was a very satisfying experience that guided me throughout lower Manhattan to some utterly beautiful areas of the city. I learned a little bit about public artwork, while also exploring new places in the city. I definitely recommend that everyone take this tour while in Manhattan.
-Rob R.
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