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Nishi, who is internationally known for transforming historical monuments by surrounding them with domestic spaces, said the aim of his piece is to put the viewer at eye level with the statue. "Discovering Columbus" is his first public art project in the United States. His other works include "Villa Victoria," a temporary functioning hotel around a statue of Queen Victoria for the 2002 Liverpool Biennial. The nonprofit Public Art Fund, which commissioned Nishi's New York installation, said the organization hasn't heard any objections from other Italian-American groups. The Columbus Citizens Foundation, a 600-member organization that sponsors the annual Columbus Day Parade, has said the artwork will mark the only time people will be able come right up to the majestic statue. The 50,000-member National Italian American Foundation in Washington, D.C., said the installation also will provoke discussion about Christopher Columbus' role in history. The city provided $1 million for the conservation of the monument -- a restoration project that will make use of the scaffolding around the privately-funded installation. The free installation runs through Nov. 18. Visitors can reserve advance passes to "Discovering Columbus" through the Public Art Fund's website at
www.publicartfund.org.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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