Advertisement

Daily What?! The Bronze Union Rat in Midtown Manhattan

Become a paid member to listen to this article
BronzeUnionRat-MidtownManhattan-NYC-UntappedCities-1

Every now and then in New York City, one gets to see “union rats”—they are those large, inflatable, grey rats that are put up by trade unions to call attention to some kind of dispute between them and their employers. Menacing and grotesque, these 12-foot rats make their presence felt no matter when they are placed—but did you know that there’s a bronze version of the union rat located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan? 

BronzeUnionRat-MidtownManhattan-NYC-UntappedCities-2

Located in the plaza of the Lever House at 390 Park Avenue, this bronze replica of the union rat is called “The New Colossus,” and it was a project of The Bruce High Quality Foundation. As a long-standing symbol of the working class protest against exploitation, the presence of this sculpture in this predominantly white-collar neighborhood is particularly ironic, and serves as a conversation starter for all those who unexpectedly discover this artwork.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @thisisaby

Advertisement

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.

Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.

You've successfully subscribed to Untapped New York.

Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.

Success! Your billing info has been updated.

Your billing was not updated.