A local artist in New York City has inflamed many of its residents by creating an overly hoochified mural for display in Times Square. On 42nd street, the colorful mural prominently depicts black and Latina women with long fingernails and wearing barely any clothes. The 26-year-old Latina creator, Sofia Maldonado, says it was meant to represent the variety of the different burroughs of New York, a side that tourists don’t usually see.
Critics of the commissioned display say the mural is too reminiscent of when Times Square was at its seediest, overwhelmed by prostitutes and peep shows, and are calling for it to be taken down.
“Why are they not standing here with briefcases and cell phones or even communicating with people to show the professionalism of black and Latino women?” says Anthony Herbert, a community advocate.
The Times Square Alliance, which put up the mural said it was sorry if it offended anybody. The Alliance released this statement:
“Since its installation, Sofia Maldonado’s mural has drawn a variety of responses from New Yorkers, both negative and positive. The goal of the privately funded Public Art Program of the Times Square Alliance is to bring the work of up-and-coming contemporary artists to Times Square and while numerous people have reacted positively to the work and the artist’s intent, we are sorry that some others have found it offensive or disrespectful. It certainly was not our intent.”
There was recently a similar incident in New Jersey where a billboard advertising TI’s jean line, Akoo, had feminists and city leaders up in arms. It depicted a black woman brought to her knees in front of a young man with unbuckled jeans, which some say implied a sexual act. It’s critics were successful in having the decidedly degrading and distracting ad removed. Should this mural see the same fate? –gerald radford
