A Ruth Bader Ginsburg statue is coming to Brooklyn in 2021. The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September led to an outpouring of tributes, both formal and informal in New York City. The proposed initiatives from the local and state government perspective seem almost to be in competition. First, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a sculpture and memorial would be dedicated to the Supreme Court justice in Brooklyn. The next day, Mayor de Blasio held a press conference to proclaim that the Brooklyn Municipal Building would be renamed the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Brooklyn Municipal Building, an initiative that was first announced two years prior. And now, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and possible future New York City mayoral candidate has declared Ginsburg’s birthday, March 15th to be Justice Ginsburg Day.
Photo courtesy Gillie and Marc
In celebration of this pronouncement, on March 15th, 2021 a sculpture of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Gillie and Marc, prolific sculptors of the contemporary moment, will be installed at City Point, the mixed-use development in Downtown Brooklyn. Justice Ginsburg signed off on the statue herself, prior to her death, and in a statement Gillie and Marc stated, “We had the honor and privilege to create Justice Ginsburg’s likeness in everlasting bronze as a part of Statues for Equality. The final statue, which she endorsed, reflects her wish to be depicted in a dignified manner. With the two steps on its large base representing the Supreme Court and the climb she made to get there, the work is designed to provide the public with an opportunity to stand at her side, and gain inspiration from her journey fighting for equal rights.”
Three of the Statues of Equality in August 2019
The Statues of Equality was initially a tableau of ten female statues that debuted on Sixth Avenue for Women’s Equality Day on August 26, 2019. The plan to have a statue of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as part of this series was already in the works at that time. The recent press release brings back this effort into the limelight, following Ginsburg’s death and the hearings to replace her on the Supreme Court taking place in the Senate. The Statues of Equality, which later moved to Lower Manhattan. The addition of the first ten statues increased the percentage of female statues in New York City from 3% to 10%. The unveiling of the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument (not an initiative of Statues of Equality) was the most recent high-profile addition of sculptures depicting real women.
Photo courtesy Gillie and Marc
Photo courtesy Gillie and Marc
About the forthcoming statue, which will be unveiled during Women’s History Month, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams states, “No one can dispute the towering achievements of this judicial giant and the value of adding her likeness to the landscape of our city.” Chris Conlon, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Acadia Realty, partner in the City Point development, added “We are honored to have this great statue grace our property, and to bring Justice Ginsburg’s ‘pathmarking’ spirit back to Brooklyn to inspire us for generations.”
Next, read about the childhood home of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and check out the new statue of Medusa With the Head of Perseus in Manhattan.
