The “Fearless Girl” statue that was erected to stare down Wall Street’s iconic “Charging Bull” sculpture in honor of International Women’s Day will remain in place through February 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office said Sunday.
“In her short time here, the Fearless Girl has fueled powerful conversations about women in leadership and inspired so many,” Mr. de Blasio said in a statement, the New York Daily News reported. “Now, she’ll be asserting herself and affirming her strength even after her temporary permit expires — a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit.”
The bronze statue, commissioned by State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), depicts a confident young girl staring down the bull with her hands on her hips. Erected to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, SSGA said its purpose was to celebrate the power of women in leadership and “the potential of the next generation of women leaders.”
The statue has become a major tourist attraction in Manhattan’s Bowling Green Park, but not everyone approves.
Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor behind “Charging Bull,” said the statue is a cheap marketing ploy that takes his piece out of context.
“That is not a symbol! That’s an advertising trick,” the 76-year-old told MarketWatch last week. “Women, girls, that’s great, but that’s not what that [my sculpture] is.”
Mr. Di Modica, a Sicilian immigrant, likened the stunt to a form of vandalism because it recast his renowned bull as an oppressor.
“I put it there for art,” he said. “My bull is a symbol for America. My bull is a symbol of prosperity and for strength.”
The Daily News said “Fearless Girl,” which stands on Department of Transportation property, will get a longer-term permit through the department’s art program.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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