Postcards memorial on Staten Island

At the beginning of a normal month, we would have presented the new art installations not to miss in New York City. For obvious reasons during the coronavirus crisis, we are shifting the angle of that regular column a bit. New installations have been understandably postponed and New Yorkers should take care to keep social distance — we are far from the end of the unprecedented pandemic situation. New York is on PAUSE, save for essential business, but Governor Cuomo still encourages solo exercise. Here, we present some of the many works of art you can still discover on your local run, which can be seen when you get your outdoor activity time. Here we have selected some of our favorites, two from each borough and one on Roosevelt Island.

1. Rocket Thrower in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Rocket Thrower in Flushing Meadows

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is the fourth largest park in New York City and a good bet to get space will taking in the outdoors at this time. While there, look for the Rocket Thrower, a a 43 foot-tall sculpture designed by sculptor Donald De Lue created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The sculpture depicts a god-like man launching a sphere into the sky with his right hand while reaching for the stars with his left hand. De Lue was one of five sculptors who were commissioned to create pieces by the Committee on Sculpture for the World’s Fair, choosing artists “from contemporary conservative to the more conservative avant-garde.” Upon creation, De Lue noted that Rocket Thrower was “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.”

Made of bronze, the sculpture faced severe corrosion and was significantly restored in 2013 and is still looking spiffy. This year, the water feature in front of the Rocket Thrower will be restored by NYC Parks, adding patio space with lounge chairs and water features for children.