OY / YO

  While walking in Williamsburg some time ago, I came across a statue by the waterfront. The statue, which is located off of North 6th Street by the East River, can be viewed from both Brooklyn and Manhattan. It is hard to miss as it is bright yellow and spells the word “OY” or “YO” depending on your position. It wasn’t until I was given this assignment that I began to think about what the sculpture was actually trying to say. One can interpret it by just looking at the obvious messages. “Oy” is the shortened form of “Oy vey iz mir” which comes from Yiddish and means “oh, woe is me”. While on the other side “Yo” is Spanish for “I”. These words may seem unrelated at first, but the artist must have found them important, because she put the time and effort into making a giant aluminum statue. The artist Deborah Kass is Jewish so the Yiddish interpretation has a closer connection to her. Yet, she has stated that both interpretations are correct and were intended for the sculpture. Personally, I think the statue is conveying a message about culture and religion in New York City and America as a whole. With just two letters the statue brings together two cultures, both with historically different religious backgrounds. While the Yiddish exclamation obviously connects the statue to Judaism, the Spanish word brings to mind predominantly Catholic roots. Through this sculpture Kass shows Judaism and Catholicism can coexist in one entity, one work of art. The statue itself is a mirror image of the city of New York. The city itself is filled with people of all different backgrounds. It was once the place that immigrants would begin their journey in America. It is a place where we can coexist with one another. Even though the United States and New York City are truly a melting pot of cultures, many groups have faced persecution due to their beliefs or background. Since the sculpture is located in a prominent location and can be seen from two boroughs, it can be seen as assertion of citizenship and belonging. This reminds me of our readings about the response to the Know-Nothing party during the period of American anti-Catholicism. In this response the Catholics clarified that the persecution they faced was unjust, because they were citizens of this country. They were seeking no special privileges, just equality. Similarly, the statue reminds us that we are all American and that America is defined by its citizens. When standing at just the right angle, the “O” in the statue perfectly encapsulates the Empire State Building, which is often seen as the symbol of the city. This placement of the statue is definitely not an accident. Rather I think it shows that our cultures and religions are what shape this city. Therefore, New York is what it is today, because of the people who reside within its limits. We are all Americans, thus we can shape the future of this nation.