Statue of Liberty National Monument will celebrate 125 years of "Liberty Enlightening the World" beginning October 28, 2011. You're invited to cast a vote to select a logo for the occasion from ten finalists.
The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States by the people of France on October 28, 1886, as an expression of their friendship and regard for the nation's founding principles. Conceived by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and officially titled "Liberty Enlightening the World," the sculpture has become an internationally recognized symbol of American liberty and contempt for tyranny.
To commemorate this historic event, the National Park Service has launched "Liberty's 125th Anniversary Logo Contest," and the public is invited to help pick the winning
design. The logo will be used during a year-long celebration who theme is "Honor History, Envision the Future."
The ten logos in the contest are the result of a collaborative effort between the park and New Jersey City University. "The logos were created by students of the University's various communication design classes and show the creativity and talent that NJCU has to offer," said Statue of Liberty National Monument Superintendent David Luchsinger. "We are delighted to showcase their artwork in this contest and look forward to seeing which logo the public likes best."
You can view the final artwork and vote for your favorite at this link.
Online voting will run from July 4 to July 18. The NPS is promoting the contest on its website as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. "We are asking the public to spread the word about the contest by sharing the link to the logos with friends by using their favorite social media sites," added Luchsinger. "Good old fashioned word of mouth about the contest wouldn't hurt either, so phone a friend!"
The winning logo will be used on commemorative banners, pins and posters, as well as on the park's web and social media sites for a full year, beginning October 28.
The Statue's original torch was the first part constructed in 1876. In 1984 it was replaced by a new copper torch covered in 24K gold leaf which is lighted by floodlight at night. The original torch is currently located in the lobby of the monument.
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Comments
[Imagine] if France would have used crowd sourcing to produce the winning design for the statue they'd gift to the United States. It would probably be on par with the craptacular work shown in the final logo designs you're polling. Thankfully the French realized the best art is created by skilled and talented craftsman like Frederic Auguste Bartholdi so we received a well-crafted, appropriate and beautiful creation. Unfortunately the same can't be said of our government. Instead of hiring a skilled and talented design firm to appropriately and elegantly brand the 125 year anniversary, they've instead opted to go with a fast food logo design crap shoot. The final result of this ignorant creative move is a visual aesthetic that screams marginal. The quality is on par with glorified clip art and does nothing to reflect the quality and craftsmanship of the very thing it's suppose to promote and honor. Hopefully you'll admit you don't know what your doing and allow a professional design firm to help you create a mark that will be something worthy of this anniversary.
God, talk about choosing a lesser evil. Never mind the slap-in-the-face this kind of contest is to the country’s thriving and talented design community, but all of the options in the poll are very poor choices—ugly, awkward things that do not represent anything that the statue does. Sorry, NJCU.
OMG, this logos are an embarrassment, I agree with the comment above and cannot ask anyone as part of my social media circle to come vote for such atrocities. There are a lot of great design firms in this country who would had probably participated and donated the talent in exchange of the honor. This is truly an embarrassment... Is there any possibility you could try again and let someone with the right skills try and start over and forget this ever happened? And then let us know, and I will tell my 600+ Facebook friends to come and vote. What a shame, Frederick Auguste Bartholdi will be sick of their stomach if he was alive now to see this know what America's great design firms is capable of doing. Enough said.
I have to agree with Justin and the others here. Possibly if this had been done during the short years after 911 the effort would seem more inspired reflecting the strong sense of gratitude and hope that the Statue of Liberty has always signified despite all the America haters out there.
WOW ... what they said - pretty danged AWFUL. Insulting. The quality of the logo design should equal the quality of the statue. Not even close.
I can only echo the sentiments of the above comments. Something this important deserves someone with professional design ability. No offense to the students - they are students and still learning. The work is fine for a class exercise but not for a national monument. When will people in positions of influence recognize the value and importance of design? They are going to get what they paid for.
It is only a 125th anniversary, and they are students. Though I think some are a bit off. So if you expect some great piece of art I doubt you are going to find it in a comm, arts class when they are generally regulated to student web designers and the such. But c'mon they are still kids. So don't turn a fun thing for students to a big flame-fest. For those still crying look at the French 1968 Olympic 'mascot' or the 1992 'mascot' and comment on fine art there. I am just glad they are giving kids a chance to express themselves and do something instead of sitting and playing video games. Though one or two may have been doing that as they did their designs. And yes some shouldn't have even made the list.
This can't be for real! And if it is, shame on you! America, what has become of you?