Tony Rosenthal
"5 in 1", 1973-74
Painted CorTen Steel
35 x 28 x 42 feet
Collection: City of New York
One Police Plaza
© Tony Rosenthal/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Tony Rosenthal's Art is so familiar and has been part of the Public Art Landscape for decades that more people recognize Tony Rosenthal Art than known the name of the man who created it.

5 in 1, Tony Rosenthal's 35 Cor-Ten Steel Sculpture, was the second of five Public Art Sculptures, created by the Artist now on Permanent 24/7 display in New York City. Rosenthal's Alamo, 1967 was not only the first of five New York City Public Art Sculptures, but also has the well-known distinction of being the first Post War Contemporary Sculpture purchased by The City of New York.

5 in 1 consists of Five interlocking discs which represent the interconnectedness of the City's Five Boroughs, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.

Although Tony Rosenthal created Abstract Art for over five decades, there was nothing random in the process of creation and his Maquette is no different. Rosenthal envisioned interlocking discs painted red in Maquette's for 5 in 1.

However, a lack of funds prevented the Red Coat of Paint specified by Rosenthal, and the Sculpture was initially installed with the raw Cor-Ten Steel exposed. Because of the exorbitant cost of constantly removing graffiti, funds were raised to paint the 5 in 1 Sculpture Red, ultimately completing the One Police Plaza Commission with the Artist's original vision.

It has been 35 years since the Tony Rosenthal 5 in 1, 1973-74, Sculpture was installed; like many Public Art Sculptures, a program of maintenance is vital. Because of years of neglect, the sculpture requires extensive structural restoration to preserve this million dollar landmark, now part of the lower Manhattan landscape at One Police Plaza.

We have been informed that the Design Commission of the City of New York does not have the funds to restore the sculpture and as a result, must count on contributions from the Adopt-A-Monument program.

The Adopt-A-Monument program helps to preserve Public Sculpture in New York City and around the Country. Mr. Rosenthal's Alamo, was the first Public Sculpture to be conserved by the Adopt-A-Monument program, and now 5 in 1 requires similar attention.