Police Release Edward Snowden Sculpture Confiscated in Fort Greene Park

The NYPD returned the sculpture of Edward Snowden that was placed in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015.  This afternoon volunteers moved the 100 pound bust from a police van at the NYPD property facility in Queens.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

City-Wide

The sculpture of Edward Snowden placed on the perimeter of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015, has been returned to the attorney for the artists, Ronald L. Kuby. 

The bust was retrieved this afternoon from the NYPD Property facility in Queens after being stored in the Bronx. 

The sculpture and plastic name tag in the police van.

The sculpture was removed by Parks officials after being on exhibit in the park after only a few hours. It was then detained by the NYPD.   

Pursuant to an agreement with the City, the two artists received civil summonses from the Environmental Control Board for the civil offense of being in the park after hours.  

They were assessed the standard fine of $50.00 each.  According to Kuby, the fine will be paid promptly to avoid incurring substantial late fees.

"We are pleased that we could resolve this matter without litigation, and appreciate the City's commitment to artistic expression, even thought the artists failed to dot every "i" and cross every "t" when initially erecting their sculpture," Kuby said.  

The bust secured in the police van. 

The artists will submit an application to legally exhibit the sculpture through the Parks Department's Art in the Parks initiative,  a 45-year-old program that exhibits artwork temporary work in city parks throughout the city.   

"We are thrilled the statue has been released for public viewing," the artists said in statement.

"The goal of this project has always been to help the public have an important national debate about mass surveillance. It is challenging to care enough to think critically about the revelations of a person much of the media has labeled a "traitor". Our instinct is to associate all actions of that person as being wrong. This short changes us all, because it does not allow us the space to make up our own minds. The statue aims to offer an alternative perspective to the media's previous characterization of Snowden - giving us the space to consider a debate over the revelations without feeling like traitors to the nation we love," they said.

A gallery in Brooklyn will temporarily exhibit the work beginning on May 8th.  At the invitation of Postmasters Gallery "The Snowden Bust" will be presented in the SEVEN at The Boiler exhibition titled,  "anonymity, no longer an option."

BACKGROUND:      A 100-pound bust of NSA whistleblower, the work of three artists, was erected by just before dawn atop one of the Doric columns near the park's Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. The city quickly covered up the statue and police confiscated and remained in police custody until today. 

Caption: The NYPD returned the sculpture of Edward Snowden that was placed in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015. The 100 pound bust was picked up Wednesday morning from the NYPD property clerk in the North Bronx.

 The NYPD barcode on the farhead of the bust.

Volunteers moved the 100 pound bust from a police van at the NYPD property facility in Queens this afternoon. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

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The Great Cover-Up As Parks' Quickly Removes Bust Of Edward 

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A Walk In The Park - April 6, 2015 - By Geoffrey Croft

Edward Snowden Artists Seek Confiscated Sculpture Back From NYPD

A 4-feet tall bust of Edward Snowden was exhibited for a few hours last week in Fort Green Park in Brooklyn before the city quickly covered it up and the police confiscated it. The artists are seeking to have the sculpture returned.  (Photo: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14,  2015 

Community to NYPD:  Return the Snowden Bust! • 

Calls On The City To Return Edward Snowden 

Sculpture Confiscated In Fort Green Park

WHO:     Civil rights and criminal defense attorney Ronald L. Kuby,   NYC Park Advocates president Geoffrey Croft will be joined by free speech supporters. 

WHAT:  Press conference calling on the City to immediately return the bust of NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden confiscated by police in Fort Greene Park.  The artists plan to submit an application to legally exhibit the sculpture through the Parks Department's Art in the Parks initiative,  a 45-year-old program that exhibits artwork temporarily in city parks throughout the city.  A local gallery has also agreed to temporarily exhibit the work. 

A letter from Ron Kuby to Police Commissioner William J. Bratton, and a statement from the artists will be available.

WHERE:  Fort Green Park - Prison Ship Martyrs Monument 

WHEN:   Tuesday, April 14th - at 10: 00 a.m. 

BACKDROP:   Supporters gather against the backdrop where the bust was placed and subsequently removed by city officials.

BACKGROUND:      A 100-pound bust of Mr. Snowden was erected by three artists just before dawn near the park's Prison Ship Martyrs Monument on Monday April 6th on one of the three empty pedestals that face the Revolutionary War monument.    The city quickly covered up the statue and police confiscated it.  The bust remains in police custody today.  The artists hope the sculpture is returned so it may "continue to spark healthy conversations about issues central to our freedoms, " they state.



Four parks workers helped cover up the work with a blue tarp so that the media could not get a look at it while they prepared to remove it.  (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) 

NYC Park Advocates Inc. is a non-partisan watchdog group dedicated to improving public parks, restoring public funding, increasing public recreation programs, expanding open space and accessibility, and achieving the equitable distribution of these vital services in New York City for all. We are the only park advocacy group dedicated to all City, State and Federal parkland in New York City. For more information please visit us at http://nycparkadvocates.org

The Great Cover-Up As Parks' Quickly Removes Bust Of Edward Snowden In Fort Greene Park

A 4-feet tall bust of Edward Snowden was exhibited for a few hours this morning before Parks Department workers covered it up with a blue tarp. (Below) The artists also added letters spelling out Snowden’s name in an official-looking font befitting of a monument beneath the eagle.  By 1:15 the bust had been removed. (Photo: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)

(Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

The Parks Department  quickly removed a bust of Edward Snowden that was erected early this morning in Fort Greene Park.

Parks workers went to great lengths to keep the illicit likeness covered up while they removed it, at one point four workers helped keep it under wraps.

The 100-pound bust  of NSA whistleblower was erected just before dawn near the park's Prison Ship Martyrs Monument on one of the three empty pedestals that face the Revolutionary War monument.  

(Photo: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)

At one point four parks workers were helping to cover it up so that the media could not get a look at it while they prepared to remove it.   (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

By 1:15pm it had been removed and driven away on top of a Parks Department vehicle.

Several onlookers complained of censorship while the workers removed it. 

More than a  dozen police officers and detectives watched while it was taken down.

The installation was first reported by a website called ANIMAL, an internet site devoted to art,  news and culture which posted a video of the group installing it. 

 The event attracted a fair amount of media attention.

According to the site, it took over six months to sculpt, mold, cast and ship to New York from the West Coast artist. 

"Measuring 4-feet tall, Snowden’s head was placed atop one of the four columns that lie at the monument’s edge, above the eagles. The bust is made of hydrocal, a high quality sculpting material," Animal reported.

"Seeing it up close, you could never tell that you were looking at a plaster-like substance. In fact, over a dozen people walking their dogs passed by the new bust on Monday morning without noticing the unsanctioned piece. Both the color and design of the bust expertly matches the existing sculptures there, from its bronze patina finish to Snowden’s hair — which mimics the texture of the feather on the eagle. The artists also added letters spelling out Snowden’s name in an official-looking font befitting of a monument."

 A Parks Department worker grabs the bust.

Park workers begin to slide it off the pedestal, being extremely careful not to reveal any of the work to the public.

Park workers move the bust from the pedestal onto the roof of the Parks Department vehicle.

 Workers secure the work on the roof of the truck.

The bottom of the bust is slightly uncovered as the parks worker ties up the work to the roof of the truck.

 Work being done under the watchful eye of the police.

According to the report the artists were mindful of not damaging the existing monument. 

"While it was very important that the piece be more than just a prop or paper mache effigy, the artists didn’t want to damage the surface that the bust would be bound to, either. After some debate, they decided on an adhesive that would firmly hold the head in place, yet could be removed without marring the monument."

Snowdon was the subject  of a 2014 documentary called Citizenfour that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2015 Oscars.

Back to Normal.

(Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) 

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