Afraid of a girl
Bull sculptor: Throw her out, she’s bum steer
They took advantage. It’s not right! They are insulting all the American people, and me and my work. Sculptor Arturo Di Modica
THERE’S A BULL brouhaha brewing on Wall St.
The man who created the famed “Charging Bull” says the “Fearless Girl” statue squaring off against his iconic animal is a total publicity ploy.
“It’s wrong what they did,” a furious Arturo Di Modica said Monday.
The bronze likeness of a young girl with her hands on her hips was installed earlier this month near Bowling Green on the eve of International Women’s Day.
The statue was the brainchild of State Street Global Advisors. The Boston-based company said the statue was intended to serve as a symbol of gender equality.
By contrast, Di Modica, 76, said his bull — which he bankrolled with his own money — was made for everyone.
“I did it for all the American people,” he fumed during a phone interview from his Church St. art studio. “Not designed for men, women or gay.”
The “Fearless Girl” sculptor, Kristen Visbal, who is based in Delaware, did not respond to requests seeking comment.
The “Fearless Girl” was originally granted a weeklong stay at the popular tourist spot, but that stretch has since been extended to a month.
Some elected officials, and a growing number of petition signers, are asking the city to allow it to stay as a permanent piece.
Di Modica hopes that doesn’t happen.
“They took advantage,” he said. “It’s not right! They are insulting all the American people, and me and my work.”
The bull, too, was never supposed to be granted a permanent residence near Wall St. Di Modica spent $350,000 out of pocket, then put the sculpture right by the New York Stock Exchange in December 1989. He never obtained a permit, and the art was later shipped off to Queens.
But city officials later changed their minds and moved it to the current spot.
“I put it there for art,” he told Market Watch, which first reported his opposition to the new installation. “My bull is a symbol for America. My bull is a symbol of prosperity and for strength.
“Women, girls, that’s great, but that’s not what (my sculpture) is,” he added.
Mayor de Blasio has not said what he plans to do with the piece after the April 2 deadline for its removal.
“This temporary installation has elevated important conversations about women in leadership, and we’re as excited by that as many New Yorkers are!” mayoral spokeswoman Natalie Grybauskas said in a statement.
“We’re exploring the possibility of keeping the ‘Fearless Girl’ for longer than currently permitted.”