The Rockefeller Center Public Art Tour
Architecture -- History -- Interesting Pictures and Stories

A Walking Tour of the Past and the Present

Murals - Sculptures - Reliefs - Architecture - History - Interesting Pictures and Stories

Includes an exploration of the art, history and architecture of Rockefeller Center with biographical information about John D. Rockefeller and a walk through the underground plaza, with its shops, restaurants and passageways that connect the Center's original 12 buildings. Some of the finest and most interesting examples of sculpture and murals are mistakenly passed over daily - as just architectural sculptures or public paintings - and people fail to realize that right here on the streets and on the public walls and ceilings of Rockefeller Center, are works from some of the great artists of the twentieth century. The purpose of this tour is to point them out, discuss and compare them to the next generation of artists as represented in the newer additions to Rockefeller Center.

Featuring information and pictures about:
John D. Rockefeller and his nemesis - Who was she? Why was she so vindictive?
Rockefeller Center's site - What was here before? Who owns Rockefeller Center?
Diego Rivera's mural in the lobby of Rockefeller's RCA Bldg. - What happened to it? And why?
Who was the ostentatious holdout who outsmarted and outlasted the Rockefellers and Columbia University for 19 years even though his lease had long expired.

Find out about the controversies connected to Rockefeller Center's art works:

• "Tumbling Woman" is gone
• Does he really look like Mussolini ?
• This panel "Art is labor....Labor is Art" was removed because?
• One of the leading figurative sculptors of the 20th century had his work cut in half at the center
• The artist would not back down on the French Coat of Arms but did back down on male nudity
• Find out about a well known artist who had been Rodin's assistant, his work was dismissed and he was insulted by the management of Rockefeller Center. He sued the center and won. Later members of the Rockefeller family personally contacted him and commissioned him for two wood statues still a part of Rockefeller Center
• Find out about the world famous artist who had his work destroyed by Rockefeller Center

Along with the works of such widely acclaimed sculptors and painters as:

• Lee Lawrie 1890 - 1970, was the in house sculptor for Rockefeller Center with over 8 works including: "Atlas"; "Wisdom, Knowledge, Light and Sound"
  He received: the "Gold Medal" from the AIA; a "Medal of Honor" from the Architectural League of N. Y. Laurie has works at West Point, U.S. Military Academy; St. Thomas Church: Church of St. Vincent Ferrer and many others
• Paul Manship 1885 - 1966, has exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; The Woodrow Wilson Memorial; The Detroit Art Institute; the Art Institute in Chicago, and works at the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and at the Musee de Luxenbough in Paris, France and more
• Jose Sert 1876 - 1945, has exhibits at the League of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland and had works at The Waldorf Astoria, NY and more)
• Attilio Piccirili 1866- 1945, has `Frangel' at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and created, `The Maine Memorial' at Columbus Circle, NY; "Fireman's Memorial" W.100 St. New York City and much more)
• Giacomo Manazu 1908 - 1990, is best known for his `Standing Cardinals' at St. Peter's Church in Rome, Italy and 1948 won the`Grand Prize for Sculpture' at the Venice Biennial. He is considered the leading figurative sculptor of the 20th century
• Carl P. Jennewein1890 - 1978, has exhibits at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Washington D.C. and more.
• Alfred Janniot <1889 - 1996 one of France's leading civic sculptors gained international recognition and awarded the `Chevalier of the Legion of Honor' for his "Tapestry in Stone" in France and more.
• Dean Cornwell 1892 - 1960; was awarded: `Gold Medal' by the Architectural League of NY,and has exhibits at The Whitney Museum; National Academy of Design and the Royal Academy in London and more
• Frank Brangwin 1867- 1956, In 1885, was the youngest artist to exhibit at the Royal Academy in London and in 1952 was the first living artists to have a one man show at the Royal Academy, London. His canvas "Funeral at Sea" won a gold medal at the 1888 Paris Salon and much more)
• Barry Faulkner 1881 - 1966, had exhibits in the National Archives, Washington D.C.; The American Academy in Rome; and has works at the State House in Concord New Hampshire; and the state capitol in Salem, Oregon: plus inspiring, dramatic murals in buildings in New York, Washington, Rochester, Hartford and Andove.
• Hildreth Meiere 1893 - 1961, has works in St . Patrick's Cathedral and St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City; the House and Senate wings of the U.S. Capitol and the National Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C.
• Carl Miller, 1875 - 1955, worked as an assistant of Roden, became, Director of the Sculpture Dept. of Cranbrook School in Michigan, Ohio. His works include: "The Fountain of the Muses" at: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.; and the "Saint Louis Fountain" (The Meeting of the Waters) in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Isamu Noguchi 1904 - 1994, has works at exhibited at: Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Whitney Museum; The Museum of Modern Art in NY; and there is a Noguchi Gardens in Long Island City and The Red Cube at the entrance to 140 Broadway and the Sunken Plaza Rock Garden at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Pine St and rock gardens across the world.
• Michio Ihara 1928 - , is self described as an architectural sculptor and works with abstract forms in steel and brass using light, shadows and movement as elements. His first one man show was in Manhattan at Staempfli Gallery that used to be at: 47 E. 77 St. Ihara has received architectural commissions in Japan, New Zealand, and dozens of locations in the U.S.
• Rene P. Chambellan 1893 - 1985, American sculptor, studied at ecole des Beaux Arts and Academie Julian in Pairs and with Solon Borglum in New York city. Chambellan specialized in architectural sculpture and a foremost practitioner of what was known as the French Modern style (Zig-Zag Moderne or Art Deco) His works are at Rockefeller Center, Radio City, Channin Bldg., Majestic Apts. Daily News Bldg. Kings County Hospital, NY Life Insurance Bldg.
• Dean Cornwell 1892 - 1960, Exhibited at: the Whitney Museum; The Chicago Arts Institute; The Royal Academy in London; the National Academy of Design in New York City, and at the 1939 World's Fair; Cornwell illustrated the popular novels: The Robe in 1947 & The Big Fisherman in 192 by Lloyd Douglas

MEETING AT: 645 Olympic Tower, Atrium Entrance, On East 51 Street Between: Fifth Avenue & Madison Avenue
E & F Train to 5 Ave.(53 St) or #6 Train to E. 51 St. (Lex. Ave.) or N & R Train to 5 Ave.

Guided by Alfred Pommer a college graduate, an informative native New Yorker and a Licensed New York City Guide,
who has spent over 20 years researching, creating and leading walking tours in Manhattan's many diverse neighborhoods.