Rocket Thrower
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Rocket Thrower | |
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Artist | Donald De Lue |
Year | 1963 |
Type | Bronze sculpture |
Dimensions | 43 feet (13 metres) high |
Location | Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Queens, New York, United States |
40°44′51″N 73°50′32″W / 40.7474°N 73.8421°W | |
Owner | City of New York[1] |
Website | Official website |
Rocket Thrower is a 1963
Description
Rocket Thrower stands 43 feet (13 metres) high and depicts an athletic and god-like man launching, with his right hand, a small sphere into the sky which leaves an arcing trail of flames behind. His left hand is raised skyward and reaches for a swirl of stars which encircle the path of the rocket. Rocket Thrower's left leg strains and crouches with his left foot planted on an arched perch. His right leg extends out fluidly. On the front of the perch (facing the Unisphere) are three distinct stars arranged in an angled line across its short width.
Over time the statue has been affected by corrosion, and its structural integrity has diminished. One arm was repaired in 1989. The statue was significantly restored in 2013.[1]
The structure's location is East of Unisphere in the Hall of Astronauts. [1]
Reception
When released, the critics of the time had mixed reviews of the work. De Lue explained the work as "the spiritual concept of man’s relationship to space and his venturesome spirit backed up by all the powers of his intelligence for the exploration of a new dimension." However, The New York Times art critic John Canaday described it as "the most lamentable monster, making Walt Disney look like Leonardo Da Vinci."[2]
Gallery
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Southwestern side
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Another view of Rocket Thrower
See also
- Outdoor sculpture in New York City
References
- ^ Daily News. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
'This is one of the largest pieces in our collection,' said Jonathan Kuhn, director of Art and Antiquities for the Parks Department, which owns the statue.
- ^ Canaday, John (April 25, 1964). "Art All Over the Fair; Sculptured Wall for the Japanese Pavilion Appears Finest Single Work". The New York Times. p. 12. Retrieved February 28, 2010.