Harlem Bids Farewell To Morningside Park's Reclining Statue Of Liberty

HARLEM, NY — The Statue of Liberty that has rested wearily in Morningside Park for nearly a year will be taken away later this spring, and Harlemites will gather to bid her a fond farewell before she departs.

The artwork, "Reclining Liberty," was installed last May near the park's entrance at West 120th Street and Morningside Avenue. Sculpted by artist Zaq Landsberg, the 24-foot-long figure was intended to pose questions about whether American liberty remained alive and well, or was in fact on the decline.

It quickly became something of a neighborhood sensation, thanks in part to its kid-friendly design that allowed youngsters to clamber on top of the plaster sculpture. But its time was always limited, and within the next few weeks, "Reclining Liberty" will be removed from the park.

First, however, she will get a grand send-off: on Saturday, April 9, residents and artists will get together at the statue for an afternoon of music, dance, poetry and "celebrating each other's freedom."

The "'Reclining Liberty' Project" event will run from 1-5 p.m., having been conceived and developed by artist Yasuyo Tanaka. In addition to a performance by Tanaka, the lineup includes dance from Yukari Osaka, a poetry reading by Khuumba Ama, interactive music and art, and more.

"The COVID 19 pandemic showed us the importance of health, peace, and freedom. Freedom lives in the parks," Tanaka said in a statement. "I want us to have a great time together, interacting and celebrating our collective freedom with music, dance, drama, and poetry."

Festivities will continue on April 26, when a children's book reading will be held by the sculpture as part of a celebration of the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, who co-designed Morningside Park.

Landsberg, the artist, said last year that the sculpture is a mashup of the Statue of Liberty and the giant, reclining Buddha statues found in Asia. By joining the Buddhist image and the American icon, Landsberg said he was exploring the status of the Statue of Liberty's ideals.

"Is the U.S. as an entity forever upright and tall, is it an eventual decline and fall, or is there another stage for the country that will transcend this symbol altogether?" read a news release.

Following her departure from Morningside, "Reclining Liberty" faces an uncertain future — though backers are working to relocate it to a park in New Jersey, the move has not been finalized, according to an organizer.

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