Broken Heart in the Garden Spot

The beloved but short-lived perfume-filled Humanity Fountain in McGolrick Park was vandalized on Thursday night, leaving the glass sculpture—a replica of a human heart—shattered to pieces, leaving Greenpointers wondering: Where is the humanity the fountain represents?
The Humanity Fountain was an art installation sponsored by local arts organization Trust Art, and was designed to reflect the humanity, kindness and humility of the spirit. The fountain was installed just two weeks ago, in a relatively open section of McGolrick Park, protected only by a short iron fence. Now all that remains is the white concrete base where the heart once stood, and a small bouquet of flowers memorializing the fountain.
The Fountain was created by glass sculptors Alan Iwamura and Isaac Tecosky, in collaboration with Trust Art’s Jose Serrano, who first discovered the broken heart on a visit to the monument. The decision to use glass instead of other sturdier or more durable materials was an intentional one, and a testament to the purpose and message of the Humanity Fountain. The sculpture—which cost roughly $4,910 to construct—consisted of an exact replica of a human heart filled with perfume that wafted into the park when the wind picked up.
Despite the recent trauma, New York City Parks Deparment Public Arts Coordinator Jennifer Lantzas said that vandalism among public art installations is uncommon—in fact, her experience suggests the very opposite.
“It has happened in the past, but it doesn’t happen very often,” Lantzas said. “People are usually very respectful—actually, if public art is in a certain area people are even more respectful. This certainly wouldn’t dissuade us from programming this park in the future, at all.”
Open Space Alliance Executive Director Stephanie Thayer explained that, while McGolrick Park has had its fair share of vandalism in the park, and though the breaking of the heart is devastating to the neighborhood, the Parks Department will continue to support and bolster public art.
“The theme of the artwork is compassion: a sculpture of a heart open to all passersby, inviting all with an evocative fragrance, set in an idyllic garden. In keeping with the theme of compassion, after the vandalism, rather than removing the sculpture, the artists replaced the broken heart with flowers, while creating a stronger heart. Breaking that glass heart, and the artists’ perseverant response, were both very symbolic,” Thayer said. “OSA will continue to assist in bringing art and beauty to our parks. Our goal was to support local artists in exhibiting in our public spaces, and in doing so, improve our local parks. We’re certainly not deterred by a couple of misguided kids.”
Because the artists anticipated the possibility that the glass heart may be damaged, they have several extra hearts on hand, and will replace the broken one in due time, most likely made from a stronger and less-breakable material.
“I lived near this park for a year—it’s an amazing, beautiful park and I was so excited that Trust Art was going to put a piece here,” Lantzas continued. “We are working with artists and artisans on the best way to replace the art. The Fountain will continue; since it is a monument to humanity and the kindness in people’s hearts, we’d like to see a better, more positive story come out of this.”

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