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#NYC removes COVID-19 heart sculpture despite $4K grant

“#NYC removes COVID-19 heart sculpture despite $4K grant”

A sculptor who got a $4,000 grant from the city to create a COVID-19 tribute — but who installed it in Central Park without a permit — was fuming after the sculpture was removed.

The Central Park Conservancy took away the heart-shaped COVID-19 sculpture this past week, leaving its creator, Italian artist Sergio Furnari, “heartbroken,” he said.

Furnari posing for a photo in front of his sculpture on October 25, 2021. He said he is "heartbroken" over its removal. — Furnari poses for a photo in front of his sculpture on October 25, 2021. He said he is “heartbroken” over its removal.

Furnari discovered his “Heroes Heart Monument” missing on Thursday.

Furnari figured the city funding – rather than a permit – would allow the installation and called its removal “an abuse of power.”

The city originally gave Furnari a $4,000 grant to create the tribute to healthcare workers during the pandemic.

A girl posing in front of the heart sculpture. — A girl poses in front of the “Heroes Heart Monument”.

The sculptor plans to go to the Central Park Conservancy, which oversees the park, on Monday to discover what happened to his artwork.

With Post wire services

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