Arturo Di Modica:
First conceived of the Charging Bull as the perfect antidote to the Wall Street crash of 1987.He worked on the now world-famous Charging Bull for over two years at his studio on Crosby Street in the Soho district of Manhattan.
It was his most ambitious and massive work of sculpture to date, so large that the Bull had to be cast in separate bronze pieces and then laboriously welded together and hand finished. Once completed at the end of 1989, it weighed over three and a half tons and measured 18 feet long.
In the early morning hours of Friday, December 15, 1989, Arturo with a few friends dropped the Charging Bull on Broad Street right in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
The previous night he'd gone to the location with a chronometer to check – noting that every 5 – 6 minutes the police patrol would come by, so he saw he'd have to drop the bull and get away within 4 1/2 minutes. But on the actual morning of the operation, Arturo and his crew discovered that during the day the NYSE had installed a large Christmas tree, blocking the way. Arturo couldn't even turn the truck around. So on the spot Arturo decided to place the Charging Bull right under the tree, as a gigantic Christmas present for the City and the World. The next day the Charging Bull was news all around the world, and enormous crowds of excited onlookers and media surrounded the mysterious sculpture that had come from no one knew where.The sculpture was removed at the end of the day by the NYSE, but a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. Today Arturo's Charging Bull is a world known tourist attraction. It stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents.
http://www.chargingbull.com/history
The Charging Bull has become a universal symbol of the American stock market and big business. It's also one of the most popular sights in New York City. Tourists travel from around the world to see the bronze beast, striking poses and snapping pictures in front of it.
It makes you wonder, how did it become so famous? Most people visiting don't even know the story.
The Creator:
- Arturo Di Modica is an Italian-American artist born in Sicily in 1941.
- He started sculpting as a teen and eventually moved to Florence, where he became well-known throughout Italy for his work.
- In the 70s, like many artists before him, he came to New York.
- Drawn to the city's energy, Di Modica opened up a studio on Grand Street in modern day SoHo.
- His work on the bull started after the stock market crash in 1987.
- Di Modica paid $360,000 of his own money in order to build Charging Bull.
- His goal was to inspire people to carry on through hard times and celebrate the perseverance of the American business professional.
- The bull was chosen to represent the "bull" (or rising) market and thriving economy — something everybody was fighting for after the crash.
The sculpture weighs over 7,000 pounds and stands 11 feet tall.
When the time came to display his grand artwork, Di Modica drove the bull into Manhattan on the back of a flatbed truck and illegally (guerilla-art style) placed the sculpture outside the New York Stock Exchange.
While it was meant to be a symbol of prosperity, members of the New York Stock Exchange did not take kindly to the free gift. The police department was called and, later that same day, the Charging Bull was taken away to an impound lot.
Even though it only lived a short life in front of the stock exchange, locals fell in love with the bull and demanded he be returned to the city. 6 Days later the New York Department of Parks and Recreation complied, placing the statue at its new location, two blocks from the New York Stock Exchange, and rededicated the Charging Bull on Dec. 21, 1989.
https://www.thewallstreetexperience.com/blog/story-behind-legendary-charging-bull