THE SCULPTURES ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 32 OLD SLIP, NYC
A GLOBAL MISSION TO BALANCE GENDER REPRESENTATION IN PUBLIC STATUES,
AND HONOR WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.
ABOUT
THE FIRST 10 WOMEN
0 3
IF AFFECTS YOU!
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Gender marginalisation in public sculptures extends beyond art and affects equal opportunities.
In 2017, the United States dropped to 49th place on the Global Gender Gap Index (World Economic Forum). Among the countries it falls behind are Uganda, Israel, Bolivia, Cuba, and Columbia.
Gender equality is not just a critical move for women - it’s imperative for the nation as a whole! Women who currently make less than 80 cents per dollar earned by men - make
up half the skilled talent in the country and the economic growth of the country will suffer if that talent pool isn’t fully tapped.
The United States Congress
Joint Economic Committee’s publication on Gender Pay Inequality states that compared to white men, Asian women make 84 cents on the dollar, white women 75 cents, black women 60 cent, and Latina women 55 cents
The Metropolitan
Museum of Art has
never had a
female Director
Female representation in the Venice Biennale has been falling. 43 % in 2009, 26% in 2013, and 33% in 2015 with a slight increase to 35% in 2017.
51% of visual artists today are women; on average, they earn 81¢ for every dollar made by male artists
The Metropolitan
Museum of Art has
never had a
female Director
51% of visual artists today are women; on average, they earn 81¢ for every dollar made by male artists
There are 119 representational monuments of men in New York City, which does not even take into account the countless statues on private land. This statistic is in comparison to the 5 statues of women.
With numbers gained from the brilliant Guerrilla Girls, as of 2012 less than 4% of the artists in the Modern Art sections are women but 76% of the nudes are female at the Met Museum.
Of 590 major
exhibitions by nearly 70 institutions in the United States between
2007 and 2013, only 27% were devoted to women artists.
Providing PR and Media
Women working across arts professions make almost $20,000 less per year than men.
INTERSECTIONALITY AND "STATUES FOR EQUALITY"
Gillie and Marc recognize that the selection of women for this project is neither all-inclusive nor comprehensive in its scope. The artists began creating imagery of individuals the public voted for and who agreed to be depicted.
We do, however, know that this is only the beginning.
As the “Statues For Equality” project expands and its profile increases, they hope to have more commissions, which will eventually represent a broader diversity of race, class, ability, sexual orientation, and gender expression.
The journey is just now underway and we need your help! Who would you like to see honored in bronze? Are you a community leader, activist, ground breaker, or earth shaker who identifies as female and wants to be involved in this project?
NEW YORK CITY LAUNCH
CURRENTLY EXHIBITED 32 OLD SLIP,NYC
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHEd ON WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY AUGUST 26th, 2019, NEW YORK CITY
Statues For Equality was proudly launched on RXR Realty’s iconic Avenue of the Americas.
Equitable, meaning fair and impartial, mirrors the sentiment of Gillie and Marc’s Statues For Equality, which aims to balance the representation of women in public art, honouring their contributions to society. Avenue of the Americas is part of the western expansion of Rockefeller Center, and one of the most sought-after office locations in the country. By reserving 10 important spots for Statues for Equality, RXR Realty is showing admirable support for equal rights.
STATUES FOR EQUALITY
For over 2000 years, the Western World has used life-size bronze statues to honorific ends. From powerful gods and conquering generals to presidents and poets, having one’s likeness cast in bronze is an unmistakable message that your contributions should not and will not be forgotten. Instead they will live on, much like the statue itself, beyond your lifetime and the lives of your contemporaries.
At a time when so much attention is being paid to the monuments of the world, and questions are being asked about why they are there and what they stand for, Gillie and Marc would like to pose these questions: What effect does it have on the young women of our world to so rarely see anyone who looks like them cast in bronze, standing tall, and unapologetically proud? What does it do to young men to not see women honored in this way? This isn’t about numbers for numbers’ sake. This is about the conscious and subconscious way our children form their ideas about themselves, their gender, and their world.
To be clear, we are not speaking of the symbolic figures, which often adorn fountains and facades and are almost exclusively women. These are not specific women who are being honored for specific contributions, but rather empty shells of the romanticized female form standing in for concepts and ideals.
With the launch of this project, Gillie and Marc will increase the number of representational statues of women in New York City by 200% but there is still so far to go. The artists call on everyone to help them institute change:
Artists – when you make a statue, make it a woman! Cities and commissioning bodies – when you ask for a statue, ask for it to be a woman! Galleries – ask yourselves, what are the bodies in your space? Are they anonymous female nudes or are they specific strong women? Citizens – reach out to your representatives and let them know that this matters!
Gillie and Marc’s Statues for Equality aim to balance gender representation in public art, and honor women’s contributions to society. Gender inequality is among the most critical issues facing the world today.
In New York City, less than 3% of statues are female, with Sydney and London following suit with 4% and 3% respectively. In fact, there are more statues called John in the UK than there are of historical women.
Gillie and Marc are on a mission to even out these statistics, starting by creating 10 larger than life statues of inspirational women which were unveiled at RXR Realty’s 1285 Avenue of the Americas, NYC on Women’s Equality Day: August 26th, 2019, in New York City. These powerful women were voted for by the public and include; Oprah Winfrey, P!nk, Nicole Kidman, Jane Goodall, Cate Blanchett, Tererai Trent, Janet Mock, Tracy Dyson, Cheryl Strayed and Gabby Douglas.
They are now currently on display outside 32 Old Slip, NYC
The New York project is just the start of Statues For Equality and the initiative is now worldwide, with projects in many different countries, including Australia the UK and the US. Gillie and Marc are keen that the sculptures are representative of all women and know that the public are the best people to ensure this happens!
“We hope that as the project expands, it will include a broader diversity of race, class, ability, sexual orientation and gender expression,” says Gillie.
They are asking the public to again nominate the next women that they think deserve the recognition of being immortalized in bronze!
“In order to truly honor the cause, it was crucial we cast the statues in bronze,” explains Marc, “they will live on, much like the statue itself, beyond your lifetime and the lives of your contemporaries.”
Sculptures inspire. They illustrate history, and they express stories of achievement that motivate generations.
Help Gillie and Marc continue their mission to balance gender representation in public art by hash-tagging #StatuesforEquality and nominating the next woman you’d like to see immortalized in bronze!
PARTNERS
Gillie and Marc are grateful for the generous support of our partners
Providing a home for our amazing women
Providing a home for the portraits
Gillie and Marc, referred to by the media as “the world’s most loving artists”, are extraordinary public artists who have worked side by side for over 25 years. Their award-winning work is on permanent display in over 40 cities, including New York, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, and Beijing. The artists’ monumental bronze sculptures spread the message of equality and conservation worldwide.
The husband-and-wife artists are passionate equal rights activists. After realizing that, from the 100-plus bronze sculptures they have been commissioned to create, only one was of a female, they decided to dedicate their work to balancing gender representation in public art. Now, Gillie and Marc actively promote the creation of female sculptures across the globe to further honor the incredible contributions women have made and continue to make in society.
The artists are best known for their rhino sculptures and beloved hybrid characters – Rabbitwoman and Dogman – who tell the autobiographical tale of two opposites coming together to become soulmates. The Rabbit and the Dog, as unlikely animal-kingdom companions, represent diversity and acceptance through love.
Among the most renowned artistic duos working today, and being such passionate activists, Gillie and Marc use their work to raise critical awareness for the causes and charities they support. Their art is also collected by the world’s most prominent galleries and art foundations.
