New imagery catching the eye of motorists on 490

Posted at: 10/08/2012 3:11 PM | Updated at: 10/08/2012 7:09 PM
By: Christine VanTimmeren | WHEC.com

There's some new artwork that's catching people's attention on 490 heading into the city.

For the past week or so, the image of a partially clothed woman has been on the side of an overpass between the Goodman Street and Clinton Avenue exits.

It's a story that has gotten a lot of comments on our website today. Some people are quite offended by the image of a partially clothed woman on their drive into the city although many people on the News10NBC Facebook page seem to really enjoy the artwork -- not because it's a naked woman but because it's so well done.

The City of Rochester is well known for its art. You can see it just about everywhere from the local coffee shops, to large outdoor murals, to simple graffiti on the overpass.

While some of it could be considered graphic, it doesn't scream controversy but controversy is exactly what this new image is creating.

Eric Morris of Rochester said, “I saw the piece of art earlier this week. I was riding with my dad in the car into downtown, I think it was Saturday morning and we were both a little surprised. He pointed it out to me and we slowed down a little bit as we passed by.”

This woman can be seen on the Averill Street overpass on 490 headed into the city between the Goodman Street and Clinton Avenue exits. She's a stylish woman from her hair, to her jewelry to her taste for wine.

Charles Hill said, “It's art. It's someone's interpretation of the body. I mean I’m not offended by it or upset about it.”

Morris said, “If the artist would come forward and say what they're message is and it's a positive productive message, in that case, they can justify their artwork being there and I would support it.”

News10NBC got video of the artwork around 12 p.m. and by 3:30 p.m. it disappeared. News10NBC contacted the DOT to see if they took care of it and they said they didn’t even know about it.

The identity of the person responsible is still a mystery. There were a few people on the News10NBC Facebook page who said they knew the artist but said the artist wanted to remain anonymous.

News10NBC did receive a comment from a local art expert who says he knows the artist. "It was done in secret to remain a secret. If the artist wanted to be known we would know. This is what it's all about. Your questions are the answers, may sound odd but true. It's done to raise questions.”

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