Robert Lederman Explains More

I received an email today from one Robert Lederman. While I am not familiar with Robert, he obviously has taken issue with the recent move by the NYC parks department to promote NBC's new hero drama the Cape using NYC historical monuments. And he should as it seems he has been fighting for A.R.T.I.S.T rights in NYC for a long time now. What I find interesting is his knowledge that street artists, (in this case the term refers to artists selling their work on the streets of NY) are not allowed within 50 feet of public statues "based on the notion that temporary street artist displays aesthetically damage the public’s enjoyment of the Parks and of the many historical monuments within those parks."

NYC Parks Department Abuses Monuments to Advertise TV Show
by Robert Lederman (artistpres@gmail.com)
[See official NBC press release below my comments]

In its latest example of hypocritically exploiting and abusing the public property under its jurisdiction to promote private corporate interests, the NYC Department of Parks has announced a partnership with NBC TV in which it will drape “capes” over more than 30 historical monuments to promote a fantasy action show, The Cape.

Aside from the questionable aesthetic taste of using historical public art monuments like the statues of George Washington and Ghandi to promote a TV cop show, the advertising gimmick violates one of the most basic Parks Department rules concerning monuments.

The revised park rules ban street artists from setting up anywhere within 50 feet of any monument based on the notion that temporary street artist displays aesthetically damage the public’s enjoyment of the Parks and of the many historical monuments within those parks.

This joint NBC/Parks Department ad promotion uses the actual monuments for advertising, covers them with a black cape, violates all notions of artistic integrity of a public work of art and falsely conflates real heroes with NBC’s imaginary one.

There are currently three lawsuits by street artists pending in Federal and State Court against the revised Park rules. SEE this link
for details, contact info etc: http://www.scribd.com/doc/46408958/Park-Rules-Controversy

you can read what NBC and the Hollywood reporter have to say below.

NBC NEWS
http://www.nbc.com/news/2011/01/05/nbc-kicks-off-new-drama-the-cape-in-an-unprecedented-partnership-with-the-new-york-city-department-o/

NBC Kicks Off New Drama 'The Cape' In an Unprecedented Partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to 'Cape' Historic Heroes

* January 5, 2011 1:02 PM

FourSquare and Twitter to Extend "Hero Behind the Cape" Campaign with "Hero a Day" Giveaway Contest for Fans Checking in Online from January 5-9

Grand Prize Winner to Receive Hero Prize Package While Daily Winners Can Win an Apple iPad

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - January 5, 2011 - NBC will introduce a new superhero this month with the premiere of the drama series "The Cape," and in anticipation of the show's two-hour premiere on Sunday, January 9 (9-11 p.m. ET), NBC will partner with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for a unique campaign to highlight historic statues all over the city.

"The Cape" will later move to its regular time slot on Mondays (9-10 p.m. ET) starting January 17.

Beginning Wednesday, January 5 through Sunday, January 9, 30 of New York City's historic statues will be outfitted with custom capes along with a plaque describing each hero's greatest achievement and the similarities between the character traits of the star of "The Cape" Vince Faraday (David Lyons).

The statues range from a Revolutionary War hero who was the nation's first President, to the leader in the fight for Cuban independence and to the world's greatest playwright, New York City is home to a plethora of monuments and statues that pay homage to many great heroes.

Statue visitors will also be able to enter the "Hero Behind the Cape" giveaway contest using FourSquare and Twitter.

Statues and locations include such heroes as George Washington in Union Square Park and Brooklyn, William Shakespeare in Central Park, Benjamin Franklin Downtown and Eleanor Roosevelt on the Upper West Side. For all locations of the 'caped' statues and official rules of the sweepstakes, which will last the entire duration of the promotion (January 5-9), go to www.herobehindthecape.com.

"We are really honored to partner with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for this unique opportunity," said Adam Stotsky, President, NBC Marketing. "There is no bigger stage than New York City, which is home to dozens of statues honoring some of the most accomplished men and women in history. We wanted to introduce New Yorkers to the latest hero hitting the small screen - 'The Cape's' Vince Faraday - and pay homage to the heroes behind the City's historic statues."

"This sponsorship will benefit the preservation of New York's collection of public art in the parks while drawing new audiences to them," said Vickie Karp, Director of Public Information for New York City Parks & Recreation. "The new NBC series is a novel way to remind even the most jaded New Yorker that heroes are all around us."

Participants can enter the sweepstakes by visiting any one of the 30 caped statues all over New York City and checking in via their FourSquare account. Also, visitors can enter by taking a photo of themselves at any of the statue locations and posting their photo to Twitter. Users will simply need to direct message the official Twitter handle (www.twitter.com/NBCTheCape) or use the hashtag #herobehindthecapeswps when they post their picture.

One winner will be chosen each day as the "Hero a Day" from all the daily entries between January 5-9 and each will receive an Apple iPad. The grand-prize winner will receive the ultimate New York City "Hero" treatment including a luxurious dinner for two, limo service, two tickets to the taping of an NBC audience show and an Apple iPad.

From the producing team of Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun comes "The Cape," about a man who lost everything -- and is about to take it all back.

Lyons ("ER") stars as Vince Faraday, a cop framed for crimes he did not commit, forcing him to team up with a group of carnival misfits to take a new identity, fight crime and win his family back. Fueled by a desire to reunite with his wife, Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, "Life on Mars") and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, "Flash Forward"), Faraday becomes "The Cape" -- his son's favorite comic book superhero -- taking the law into his own hands and battling the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City.

Rounding out the cast are James Frain ("True Blood," "The Tudors") as billionaire Peter Fleming -- The Cape's nemesis -- who moonlights as the twisted killer, Chess; Keith David ("Death at A Funeral") as Max Malini, the ringleader of a circus gang of bank robbers who mentors Faraday and trains him to be The Cape; Summer Glau ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") as Orwell, an investigative blogger who wages war on crime and corruption in Palm City.

Also starring are Dorian Missick ("Six Degrees") as Marty Voyt, a former police detective and friend to Faraday; Martin Klebba ("Pirates of the Caribbean") as Rollo, member and unassuming muscle of the circus gang of bank robbers and Vinnie Jones ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels") as Scales, resident thug and cohort of Chess, The Cape's nemesis.

"The Cape" is a Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun production from executive producer/creator Tom Wheeler ("Empire"), along with executive producers Berman and Braun, John Wirth ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"), and Gene Stein ("Accidentally On Purpose").

For "The Cape" embeddable clips and full episodes, visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-cape/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbc-puts-capes-nyc-statues-68678<>