Dear Editor:
On June 10, 2004 the Washington Post ran a story, “Controversial from Moscow to Hudson (online the story can be accessed at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29661-2004Jun9.html?referrer=email). The story covers the gift by the controversial Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli of his sculpture “The Tear of Grief,” destined to be installed in Jersey City as a 9/11 memorial.Once again Jersey City is being made ridiculous, in this case for accepting the art of a man whose work is universally ridiculed. It’s kitsch, not art. Tsereteli, who has strong political connections in Moscow, has succeeded in having many of his awful pieces installed in that city – and the article suggests the people of Moscow are relieved that Jersey City accepted this monstrosity so they won’t have to live with it.
Aside from its obvious weaknesses as a piece of art, the sculpture looks like a woman’s vulva, and it’s huge. Just so no one in New York City will miss it, it’s 10 stories high and is currently scheduled to be installed on Owen Grundy Pier.
Please, please, is there nothing to be done to stop this? Bad enough that Jersey City residents are embarrassed – now the news is being spread from our nation’s capitol by one of the country’s best and most influential papers. We’re a laughing stock.
Our late Mayor Glenn Cunningham was a wonderful man, and I appreciated particularly everything he was doing for the city’s neighborhoods. But he simply made a mistake in accepting this unfortunate sculpture. It will do no honor to him or to the city to let this mistake stand – or rather, rise on our waterfront. Acting Mayor Smith and the City Council should do the right thing and cancel plans for its installation.
Anne Barry