The controversial “Civic Virtue” statue my soon be moving to its final resting place – a cemetery in Brooklyn.
Richard Moylan, president of the Green-Wood Cemetery said the move is still not set in stone.
“We’ve made an offer to take the statue,” he said. “All I know is that we made our offer and it is now up to the state.”
Controversy has surrounded the statue since it was unveiled in 1922. Several Queens politicians – most famously Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, former congressman Anthony Weiner and borough president Helen Marshall, have expressed their concerns that the statue is sexist because it depicts a naked man (virtue) standing atop two women (vice).
Helen Marshall told The New York Times the 90-year-old statue and that it was built in a time when women played a different role in society. “That statue is 90 years old and that kind of thinking is far-off and crazy,” she said.
Despite the belief that the statue conveys a sexist message, Dan Andrews, press director for Helen Marshall, said Marshall wants the statue to stay in Queens.
“We would prefer the statue stay here, but we do not have the money for restoration,” he said. “I don’t agree with the portrayal of women in the statue, but we recognize that the statue has artistic value. This was still a gift to Queens County and is a work of art that has been here for decades.” Andrews claimed that the restoration of the statue may cost upward of $2 million.
Andrews explains that “Civic Virtue” may be moving to Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery because the statue could potentially be restored with private funds.
“Civic Virtue,” which was designed in Paris by Frederic MacMonnies and moved to Queens 71 years ago, may be restored by family members of the deceased sculptor. According to Moylan, several of MacMonnies’ relatives are buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery.
Although the statue remains offensive to some politicians and residents of Queens, many will be disappointed if the statue leaves its home on Queens Boulevard and Union Turnpike.
“I can definitely see why the statue may seem sexist,” said Duval Jones, a resident of the neighboring Jamaica. “I still think this is a part of our borough. This is something that has been in Queens for years. I don’t think the statue is in that much of disarray that it needs a $2 million restoration.”
Ivette Mariani, long-time resident of Queens, said she never viewed the statue as sexist. “The statue has been here since I’ve been living here – 30 years. I’ve never really thought the statue was sexist.” When Mariani saw fences around the statue, she thought they were finally going to restore it at the Queens location and was shocked to hear the statue may move to Brooklyn. “To me, this statue is an icon of Queens. I’m go- ing to be sad to see it go. I’ve taken a million pictures with it in my time living here.”
Tom Abdal, a resident of New Jersey who works on Queens Boulevard, feels as though there are enough statues in Brooklyn. “I guess I can see what people mean by the statue is derogatory and offensive to women but it’s just a piece of art. Regardless of whether its offensive to anyone the art should stay here,” he said. “Everyone recognizes Queens Boulevard with that statue.”
According to Andrews, if the statue does move to Brooklyn, Helen Marshall plans to build a memorial in its place that will honor a woman or women from Queens.
By Natalia Kozikowska
