Zeno Frudakis' Frank Rizzo statue is one of the most controversial effigies in past and present day Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a blunt man and an immense figure on the city's political landscape for multiple decades. Rizzo was a cop at first, but the proceeded to become the mayor of Philadelphia and served two terms. He was known for his sometimes incongruous statements to the press. People looked at him as either a hero or villain.
Mayor Rizzo' statue was created in 1999 and was also installed at that time. The exact location is 1401 John F Kennedy Boulevard. It is right in front of the Municipal Services Building in Center City. In addition, Rizzo's statue is adjacent to The Clothespin, which was one of his least favorite public art pieces. His statue has never moved from the location it was originally destined. The obvious controversy with the statue is that he was not loved by all citizens of Philadelphia. Zeno Frudakis just sees his art as art and nothing else, but the public has a different take. Depending on who someone is determines if they like the statue and people remember the memories of that person. Since Rizzo was such a polarizing and controversial person, most of the public does not mind it, but the rest hate it. Other artists have not commented on their either like or dislike of the statue. Public art in films can show where the setting is and can reveal specific locations of wherever the movie partakes.
I chose this piece because the figure is completely controversial. Personally, the statue has no effect on me and I am indifferent about it because I was not around to witness and judge who Frank Rizzo was as an individual. My message is that the statue should be destroyed just because he was not well-liked enough to deserve it. The statue in a film would directly show where the setting was. Finally I would destroy the statue because it is more of a negative piece of art in Philadelphia than a positive one.
