CHARGE! A Bullish Italian Indeed.
“There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation.”
-W.C. Fields
Since 1989, the Charging Bull sculpture (so named because it depicts, yes, an aggressive-looking bull) has aptly made its home in New York’s Financial District. An unofficial symbol of Wall Street, the sculpture first appeared on the scene when left on Lower Manhattan’s proverbial doorstep in the middle of a cold December night. And that’s not even the beginning of the story…
The Birth Of An Icon
Sculptor Arturo Di Modica was born in the small city of Vittoria, on the island of Sicily (off Italy’s southern tip), in 1941. He developed a love for art at a young age and by his teenage years had decided on sculpture as his preferred medium;
“Mama! I’m going to sculpt!”
“Why?”
“Because I love it!”
“Ok…but finish your oatmeal first.”
Pursuing the creative life, Arturo moved at age 19 to the Holy Grail of art-minded cities: Florence, Italy.
Once in Florence, he attended the Academia Del Nudo Libero and took classes geared to young and aspiring artists. After having two years of training and courses under his belt, Arturo set up his first studio nearby. Most of his work of this period was done in metals—especially bronze—but he also dabbled in marble. And his fan base quickly grew, as people admired his work and crowned him with awards.
Coming To America
In 1973, after successfully establishing himself in Florence and in the world of sculpture, Arturo elected to bring his talents to the other side of the pond (to take advantage of America’s opportunities and its environment). And what better place than Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood to set up shop? New Yorkers, as well as the wider set of U.S. art aficionados, quickly became enamored of the pieces he was turning out.
Arturo made his first big, public stir in 1977 when he surreptitiously deposited seven abstract pieces made of marble (weighing more than a ton) in front of Rockefeller Center. He asked no one’s permission and simply dropped the art collection off in the middle of the night, for the world to wake up to the following day. The stunt certainly earned Arturo and his art a place in the headlines.
By 1978, he had outgrown his studio on Grand Street and relocated to a spot on Crosby Street (from which he still operates). His work was frequently featured in exhibitions—and private collectors also took note, snapping up favorites. Today, private New York businesses and collections that house Di Modica’s works include The Russian Tea Room, The Metropolitan Golf Association, and the Seagrams National Headquarters in White Plains.
Run Like The Wind
Arturo has always loved horses—and sculpting horses, growing up as he did in a place that once bred the animals (thousands of years ago). And so it may come as no surprise that he left a large bronze horse in front of Lincoln Center in February 1986 (again, under cover of night). This 10-foot sculpture, called Il Cavallo (Italian for “the horse”) was a valentine of sorts to the people of New York.
Never one to back down from a challenge or an artistic inspiration, Arturo soon got to work on yet another “gift” the city wasn’t expecting. The Wall Street crash of 1987 prompted him to create a symbol of strength, power, virility, and America’s “can-do” spirit—as a counterpoint and message of hope. A rising stock market was needed by the people and its long lived bullish symbol, was to be larger than life, courtesy of Gotham’s very own, Italian Batman.
Arturo’s passion for the city and desire to make a positive difference for the people lead him to begin work, almost immediately. Roughly two years later, he had completed what would be his career-defining masterpiece, Charging Bull.
Charge!
Made entirely of bronze, the sculpture was cast in several pieces and later welded together. The bull is made to look as though he is ready for action, with his head lowered and nostrils almost flaring; the horns are large and would be quite intimidating were the beast real. The cost to make Charging Bull totaled $360,000 (or about $691,000 today), out of Di Modica’s own pocket…his personal wealth advisor was just relieved that gold wasn’t the primary material.
Finally, in December 1989, Arturo was ready to install his latest creation on Broad Street, in front of the New York Stock Exchange. But how and when to do so? Larger in scale to his two prior “drop-offs,” the bull measured 11 feet tall by 16 feet long and weighed in at 3.5 tons—or, 7,100 lbs. (despite the bull’s “skin” being less than one inch thick).
So Arturo staked out the location on December 14 with his trusty chronometer (a device for measuring time) to see how often security personnel came ‘round. The usual interval was every five-to-six minutes, so he’d have to be quick! In the early morning of Friday, December 15, Arturo (with help from a few friends and a flatbed truck) proceeded to the spot with the beast in tow. But they were surprised to find that a large Christmas tree had sprung up at the NYSE, and it blocked their way. So the bull was deposited under the tree. A Christmas present of sorts to the people of New York!
Again, Arturo’s “gift” was a huge media sensation, drawing crowds and headlines the next day. But the NYSE hadn’t counted on a bull featuring in its holiday décor and saw fit to move it. Only you don’t just pick up a 3.5-ton bull and move it down the street; it took the better part of a day for authorities to locate and schedule a rig to pick it up and cart it off.
A Bull In A Bowling Green
For a few days, the bull sat in an impound lot until its “rescue” by Henry Stern, the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation—with support from New York Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association. The team of three had found a permanent home for Charging Bull near the stock exchange, at the intersection of Broadway and Morris Street. At the northern tip of Bowling Green Park, the bull was restored to its adoring fans on December 21—a Christmas miracle! And to this day, that is where the sculpture sits, on a long-term loan to the city.
The bull has made appearances in films including Hitch, Inside Man, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Arthur. It also features in many a souvenir photograph. Thousands of people a day—and millions over the course of a year—stop by to see the imposing giant. Some even think it’s good luck to touch the sculpture.
Arturo The Great
In 1999, in recognition for his creativity and important work, Arturo received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. It is conferred by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and honors diversity by celebrating the contributions of those who have immigrated to the U.S.
And at 73 years young, Arturo has barely slowed down since the success of Charging Bull. In 2010, a similar sculpture called Bund Bull was installed in Shanghai, and another one was placed in Amsterdam in 2012. Most recently Stamford, Connecticut even got its own charging bull with a stainless steel replica (eight feet by four feet) placed on the city’s Bedford Street for exhibition.
Currently, Arturo splits his time between Sicily and New York. He is working on more horse-related projects and plotting what will be Italy’s largest sculpture (fortunately, they’ve had fair warning).
In the meantime, you can visit Charging Bull on Broadway, where it comes together with Morris Street. Perhaps symbolically, it faces uptown. Symbolically, perhaps, Arturo was and still is Sculpting The Town!
To you, our Italian friend and artistic genius!
Confetti
Fraunces Tavern Museum –This tavern, restaurant, and museum (all in one!) is housed within a building dating to 1719—and it’s an ode to Colonial America and the Early Republic. Stop by for an oyster stout and fish & chips! 54 Pearl St., New York, NY (212) 425-1778
FIKA –In the mood for coffee and chocolate? (We assume the answer is “yes.”) FIKA embodies the Swedish tradition of a coffee break, accompanied by conversation and a treat. Slow-roasted coffee and handcrafted chocolates await you! 66 Pearl St., New York, NY (646) 837-6588
