The High Line in New York serves as an important platform for public art in the city, featuring wall murals, sculptures, performances, and video installations. One piece that I noticed this summer, when walking along the High Line with hundreds of other New Yorkers and tourists alike, was a massive mural by Dorothy Iannone.
“I Lift My Lamp Beside The Golden Door” by Dorothy Iannone
Covering a wall adjacent to the High Line at 22nd street, the mural features three colorful Statues of Liberty on a white background. Between the figures, the text “I lift my lamp beside the golden door” is written. These words are the final line from the Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus,” which is engraved on a plaque inside the Statue of Liberty. The poem speaks to the freedom promised by immigration to America. I find the mural inspiring because at a time of heated political debate in reference to immigration in the United States, Iannone has depicted three vibrant, powerful, and proud Statues of Liberty that shed some light and joy to a topic that has caused so much pain and agony as of late.
The mural was commissioned for the wall from March 2018 to March 2019.
I have always loved this mural! I never realized that the quote was a reference to Emma Lazarus’ poem. With that in mind, I totally agree with you that this mural is especially relevant at a time when our country is so conflicted about immigration issues.