A Walking Tour of Rockefeller Center's Public Art

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 14 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? The Twin Brownstone Vanderbilt Mansions - Diego Rivera's mural in the lobby of Rockefeller's RCA Bldg. - What happened to it? And why?

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:

• Paul Manship 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 has exhibits at the League of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland and had works at The Waldorf Astoria, NY and more)
• Attilio Piccirili 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)
• Lee Laurie awarded `Medal of Honor' from the Architectural League of NY and the`Gold Medal' from the American Institute of Architects; he was the in house sculptor for Rockefeller Center and much more)
• Giacomo Manazu 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. Jennewein has exhibits at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Washington D.C. and more.
• Alfred Janniot 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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.
• Also works by such well known and accomplished artist of the day as: Rene P. Chambellan - Leo Frielander