Forever Marilyn

{{short description|Sculpture of Marilyn Monroe by John Seward Johnson II}}

{{Infobox artwork

| image_file = Forever Marilyn in Palm Springs.jpg

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| caption = Forever Marilyn in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum in 2021

| title = Forever Marilyn

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| artist = Seward Johnson

| year = 2011

| type = Painted steel and aluminum

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| height_imperial = 26

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| imperial_unit = ft

| city = Chicago, IL (2011–12)
Hamilton Township, NJ (2014–15)
Bendigo, Australia (2016)
Stamford, CT (2018)
Palm Springs, CA (2012–14, 2021–)

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| owner = PS Resorts{{Cite news |last=Cassady |first=Daniel |date=February 28, 2023 |title=26-Foot Marilyn Monroe Statue Still Causing a Stir Among the Palm Springs Elite |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/marilyn-monroe-statue-palm-springs-lawsuit-1234658996/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |work=ARTnews }}

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Forever Marilyn is a giant statue of Marilyn Monroe designed by Seward Johnson. The statue is a representation of the image of Monroe taken from Billy Wilder's 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Created in 2011, the statue has been displayed in a variety of locations in the United States, as well as in Australia.

Description

The {{convert|26|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} {{convert|34000|lb|kg|adj=on}} sculpture, manufactured of painted stainless steel and aluminium,{{cite web|title=The Retrospective Site Map (See: Icons Revisited Series)|url=http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/userAssets/file/sj-retrospective-map.pdf|website=Groundsforsculpture.org|publisher=Grounds for Sculpture|access-date=9 October 2016|archive-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708031801/http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/userAssets/file/sj-retrospective-map.pdf|url-status=dead}} is a super-sized tribute to Marilyn Monroe's scene from Billy Wilder's 1955 infidelity comedy, The Seven-Year Itch, with the figure capturing the instant a blast of air from a NYC subway grate raises her white dress.{{cite web|title=The Seven Year Itch (Trivia)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048605/trivia|website=IMDB.com|access-date=29 August 2016}}

Locations

The statue was displayed at Pioneer Court part of the Magnificent Mile section of Chicago, Illinois. In August and September 2011 the statue was vandalized three times, including being splashed with red paint. According to the executive director of the Chicago Public Arts Group, "In our society, we have little room for sexually expressive images{{nbsp}}... The social contract doesn't work, because it is itself laden with political meaning, and provocative meaning and sexual meaning."Reese, Ronnie. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/09/28/vandals-splash-monroe-statue-with-red-paint/ Vandals splash Monroe statue with red paint]. Chicago Tribune. September 28, 2011. Accessed October 2, 2011.

It was moved in 2012 to the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs, California.{{cite web |last=Descant |first=Skip |date=March 27, 2014 |title=Forever Marilyn: Palm Springs sets goodbye party |url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2014/03/27/forever-marilyn-palm-springs-goodbye-party/6965295 |access-date=29 August 2016 |website=The Desert Sun}} It was given a farewell sendoff during the Palm Springs Village Fest on 27 March 2014,{{cite journal|title=Business News: Forever Marilyn to Stay in Palm Springs until Mid-November|journal=The Public Record|date=July 30, 2013|volume=37|issue=32|pages=3|issn=0744-205X|oclc=8101482}} and was then relocated to the Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton, New Jersey as part of a 2014 retrospective honoring Seward Johnson.{{cite web|title=Seward Johnson: The Retrospective |url=http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/Exhibitions/Seward-Johnson-The-Retrospective |access-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005012348/http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/Exhibitions/Seward-Johnson-The-Retrospective |archive-date=5 October 2014 }} Due to its popularity, the statue remained on display at the GFS until September 2015, after the official end of the retrospective.{{cite news |last=Mancuso |first=Michael |date=29 September 2015 |title=Goodbye Norma Jean: Forever Marilyn sculpture comes down |url=http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2015/09/goodbye_norma_jean_-_forever_marilyn_is_de-install.html |access-date=22 August 2016 |website=NJ.com}}

The statue was displayed in 2016 in Rosalind Park in the Australian city of Bendigo in connection with the Bendigo Art Gallery's Marilyn Monroe exhibition.{{Cite news |last=Kearney |first=Mark |date=2016-02-02 |title=Mega Marilyn unwrapped {{!}} Video |url=https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3701629/mega-marilyn-unwrapped-video/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Bendigo Advertiser |language=en-AU}}

In 2018, the statue was displayed at Latham Park in Stamford, Connecticut, as part of a large public art exhibition honoring the works of Seward Johnson. Thirty-six sculptures were placed throughout streets and parks in Downtown Stamford, with Forever Marilyn being the highlight of the exhibit.{{Cite web |title=Timeless – The Works of Seward Johnson |url=http://stamford-downtown.com/events/timeless-the-works-of-seward-johnson/#.Ws4boC7wYdV |access-date=2018-04-11 |publisher=Stamford Downtown |language=en-US}} The statue sparked controversy when it was placed in Stamford with complaints arising due to her appearing to flash her underwear at the nearby First Congregational Church.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/church-giant-marilyn-monroe-statue_us_5b1ec451e4b09d7a3d75bb1b|title=Church Is Taking Appearance Of Gigantic Marilyn Monroe Statue In Stride|last=Kuruvilla|first=Carol|date=2018-06-11|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.newser.com/story/260420/cheeky-artwork-marilyn-statue-outside-church-leaves-some-upset.html|title=Marilyn Monroe Statue Outside Church Gets Tongues Wagging|last=Cromley|first=Janet|date=2018-06-09|work=Newser|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/16279566.The_day_in_pictures___15_photographs_that_made_today_s_news/#gallery0|title=The day in pictures : 15 photographs that made today's news|website=HeraldScotland.com|date=8 June 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-30}}

In September 2019, Palm Springs mayor Robert Moon announced the statue's return to Palm Springs as a permanent fixture after being stored in a dismantled state in New Jersey.{{Cite news |last1=Makinen |first1=Julie |last2=Daniels |first2=Melissa |last3=Metz |first3=Sam |date=September 25, 2019 |title='Forever Marilyn' statue to return to Palm Springs |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2019/09/25/forever-marilyn-monroe-statue-return-palm-springs/2445990001/ |work=Desert Sun}} On 3 February 2021, it was announced that the statue would be erected on Museum Way just east of the Palm Springs Art Museum with an unveiling date of 18 April 2021. According to the announcement, Forever Marilyn is set to remain in Palm Springs for up to three years: in two years time the statue's local economic impact is scheduled to be reviewed and its future decided.{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Taylor |date=4 February 2021 |title='Forever Marilyn' Sculpture Nears Return to Downtown Palm Springs |url=https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2021/02/03/forever-marilyn-sculpture-nears-return-to-downtown-palm-springs/ |work=NBC Palm Springs}}{{Cite news |last=Rode |first=Erin |date=March 20, 2021 |title='Forever Marilyn' unveiling pushed back to April 18 |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/03/01/forever-marilyn-statue-return-palm-springs-april-18/6879286002/ |work=Desert Sun}} Litigation seeking to block the erection of Forever Marilyn was filled in the California courts.{{cite news |last1=Rode |first1=Erin |title=Court denies latest effort to block Forever Marilyn installation |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/palm-springs/2021/06/01/court-denies-latest-effort-block-forever-marilyn-palm-springs/7497296002/ |work=Desert Sun |publisher=USA Today Network |date=June 1, 2021}} The statue was unveiled on 20 June 2021,{{Cite news |last= |date=2021-06-25 |title=Marilyn Monroe statue returns to Palm Springs, to cheers and jeers |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/entertainment/2021/06/25/marilyn-monroe-statue-returns-to-palm-springs-to-cheers-and-jeers/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Free Malaysia Today |language=en |agency=Reuters}} with the Riverside County Superior Court dismissing four of the Committee to Relocate Marilyn's purported causes of action on 18 July 2021, with the committee's remaining two purported causes being dismissed by the Riverside County Superior Court on 9 September 2021.{{Cite news |last=Cutchin |first=James B. |date=September 16, 2021 |title=Palm Springs' 'Forever Marilyn' statue case dismissed by court, opponents plan appeal |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/09/15/forever-marilyn-statue-case-dismissed-opponents-plan-appeal/8349256002/ |work=Desert Sun}}

In 2021, the statue was debated on the TV programme Good Morning Britain. The statue was defended from accusations of misogyny by Monroe impersonator Suzie Kennedy.{{Cite web|last=Griffin|first=Louise|date=2021-05-26|title=Marilyn Monroe impersonator hits back at claims statue 'encourages upskirting'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/26/marilyn-monroe-impersonator-defends-statue-against-upskirting-claims-14646747/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Metro|language=en}}

The city council voted in 2023 to amend the Palm Springs Specific Plan to keep the statue in its current location by vacating a small portion of public right of way to create a parcel for the statue.{{Cite news |last=Jadulang |first=Tiani |date=2023-12-05 |title=Palm Springs Amends City Plan For 'Forever Marilyn' Statue |url=https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2023/12/04/palm-springs-amends-city-plan-for-forever-marilyn-statue/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |work=NBC Palm Springs |language=en-US}} The mayor announced in July 2024 that the statue would be moved out of the Museum Way view corridor to Downtown Park under an agreement which would avoid future litigation.{{Cite news |last=Pogrebin |first=Robin |date=2024-08-02 |title=Icon or Eyesore? Palm Springs to Move Divisive Marilyn Monroe Statue |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/02/arts/design/marilyn-monroe-statue-palm-springs.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-27 |title=Marilyn Monroe Statue In Palm Springs: New Spot Announced |url=https://patch.com/california/palmdesert/amp/31857853/marilyn-monroe-statue-in-palm-springs-new-spot-announced |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Palm Desert, CA Patch |language=en |agency=City News Service}}

Replica

A similar {{convert|8.18|meter||adj=mid|-tall|order=flip}} stainless steel statue made in China was taller than the original. It had been put on display at a Chinese business center in 2013 to highlight the business's international relations.{{cite web|title=China's tallest Marilyn Monroe statue dumped|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-06/21/content_17605933_3.htm|website=chinadaily.com| date=21 June 2014 |access-date=24 April 2023}} In June 2014, the eight ton statue was photographed in a local Guigang, China garbage dump.{{cite web |date=19 June 2014 |title=A 26-Foot Marilyn Monroe Sculpture Meets Its End in a Chinese Dump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weird-news/dumped-giant-marilyn-monroe-thrown-out-trash-n135341 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=NBC News}} This statue is featured twice in the 2017 Chinese drama film, Angels Wear White. It is shown both at the start of the film on full display and as part of the films poignant commentary, at the end of the film, in the process of being discarded in pieces and hauled away.{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Natalie |date=2018-06-13 |title=Review: Angels Wear White |url=https://www.filmedinether.com/reviews/review-angels-wear-white/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Filmed in Ether |language=en-AU}}