For the second time in a decade, authorities have removed the Astor Place Cube, one of New York’s most beloved public works of art, this time to carry out much-needed repairs. The eight foot high Bernard “Tony” Rosenthal officially titled sculpture Alamo should be back in August.
A staple of the East Village since its installation in 1967, the Astor Place Cube has fascinated students and tourists alike with its ability to spin on its axis, the 1,800 pounds of Cor-Ten steel impressively balanced on a corner. But since 2021, the mechanism for rotating the structure is broken, having separated from the base.
Now the Department of Transport, which is responsible for its upkeep, will return the Cube to its former spinning glory, with repairs funded by the estate of the artist, who died in 2009. Rosenthal actually intended to lock the Cube at a fixed position. once it was set up, but the happy accident of its spinning ability proved the key to its enduring popularity.
“Generations of New Yorkers have tried the Cube, and we’re thrilled the DOT and the Estate of Tony Rosenthal have reached an agreement to refurbish the iconic sculpture so it can keep spinning for generations to come,” said said Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner for Cultural Affairs. said in a statement. “Public art is integral to the vibrancy of New York’s public spaces, and the Cube’s restoration ensures that its singular presence will continue to enliven and define this bustling corner of the city.”
Bernard “Tony” Rosenthal Alamo (1967). The artwork known as the Astor Place Cube is removed for restoration. Photo courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation.
When the DOT first learned that the cube was no longer spinning properly, they sent city engineers to investigate. What they discovered was that the sculpture was beginning to tilt, in the style of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In December 2021, the Sun Village reported, the DOT had to install a metal brace to hold it in place.
The repairs, which will cost around $100,000, will be done by Versteeg Art Fabricator, a Connecticut foundry. They will include straightening and applying five coats of fresh paint.
“Cost was not the issue. We want Tony’s legacy to continue,” said Rosenthal Estate Manager Dave Petrie. New York Times. He had been “concerned by the state of disrepair” in which the work was.
The sculpture had already been restored, also by Versteeg, in 2005. At the time, water had seeped into the cube, forcing workers to derust and unclog the drainage holes.
Bernard “Tony” Rosenthal Alamo (1967). The artwork known as the Astor Place Cube is removed for restoration. Photo courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation.
The cube was out of sight again from 2014 to 2016, during the $17.2 million Astor Place reconstruction project, which transformed the area surrounding the Cube into a permanent pedestrian plaza. Another restoration, costing $180,000, was carried out around this time.
The sculpture was originally slated to be displayed for just six months, as part of the city’s first large-scale public art exhibition, organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs. It was immediately embraced by the public and the neighborhood successfully campaigned to keep it permanently visible. (Rosenthal had planned to donate the work to his alma mater, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, but ultimately donated a second version of the play at school.)
“Rosenthal’s 1960s artistic vision has successfully captured the imagination and spirit of the entire East Village community for decades with an iconic sculpture that is best enjoyed when touched and rotated with friends. “DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement. statement.
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