Palm Springs, CA: Not Sure What All The Fuss Is About

After a protracted battle, Seward Johnson’s “Forever Marilyn” statue has been installed in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Some objected to the placement, thinking the 26-foot-tall aluminum and steel sculpture, depicting a scene from the 1955 comedy, “The Seven-Year Itch,” appears to be flashing the museum to the rear, and a misogynistic objectification of women, following the Me Too movement of recent years.

Between 2012 and 2014, the statue stood elsewhere in Palm Springs. Tourism officials felt it was a draw to the area then, and are hoping it will bring visitors to the Coachella Valley again, as we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic.

I was in Palm Springs for a bit of work last weekend, so I made my way over to see it. Lots of locals and visitors alike were out in force, seeing the installation and making pictures of themselves with it. Personally I’m not sure what all the fuss is about.