“Forever Marilyn” staying in Palm Springs until November
A 26-foot-tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe willstay in downtown Palm Springs until mid November, it was announced today.
The Santa Monica-based Sculpture Foundation, which owns the “ForeverMarilyn” statue, granted the extension. The sculpture had been slated todepart Palm Springs in early September, according to the city and P.S. Resorts,a nonprofit started by local hoteliers to promote Palm Springs tourism.
“This is very exciting news for Palm Springs and the entire CoachellaValley, and the goal is to create even more events during the additional timeMarilyn is here,” said Aftab Dada, chairman of P.S. Resorts, which organizedand helped fund the installation of “Forever Marilyn.”
The sculpture, located on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and PalmCanyon Drive, has drawn thousands of residents and visitors since its arrivalin May 2012, according to the city and P.S. Resorts.
“Marilyn has become a Palm Springs icon that truly makes our city likeno place else, and residents and visitors from all over the world love andappreciate her,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “I want to thank The SculptureFoundation for partnering with us to keep her in town as long as possible.”
The statue was originally scheduled to remain in Palm Springs throughJune, then got an extension to September, then November.
“Palm Springs residents and visitors have delighted us with theircreative embrace of the Forever Marilyn sculpture. The online posts, the manyemails, events and celebrations, all have shown the foundation, and artistSeward Johnson, how a community can be inventive and enhance the experience ofpublic art,” said Paula Stoeke, director of The Sculpture Foundation.
Next year, the sculpture will be taken to Hamilton, N.J., for anexhibition and gala honoring Johnson at a sculpture park called Grounds ForSculpture, according to P.S. Resorts.
The sculpture is based on a photograph by Bruno Bernard taken during the1955 filming of “The Seven Year Itch.”
The 34,300-pound statue was unveiled in July 2011 on Michigan Avenue inChicago, and was shipped in pieces to Palm Springs in May 2012 and reassembleda week later. P.S. Resorts and local donors, restaurant owners, hoteliers andmerchants helped pay the $78,000 installation cost.
Monroe reportedly was discovered in Palm Springs at Charlie Farrell’sRacquet Club by talent agent Johnny Hyde in 1949. She spent time in PalmSprings in the 1950s with her then-husband, Baseball Hall of Famer JoeDiMaggio, and eventually owned a home in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood inthe early 1960s, according to P.S. Resorts.
A Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest is scheduled for Aug. 1 at PalmSprings’ VillageFest, on Palm Canyon between Baristo and Amado roads. Thedeadline to enter is July 30. Information is posted athttp://forevermarilynpslookalike.eventbrite.com. There is also a concert onSept. 7 with Beach Boys and Beatles tribute bands.
The statue has also been the backdrop for a birthday party for Monroefeaturing an Elton John tribute artist and screenings of Monroe’s films.
