DowntownSunday, November 8
Downtown Myrtle Beach's new $21,000 Rabbit Man statue has people talking
The 5AM Socastee team
If you've walked past Fourth Avenue and Broadway lately, you've met Rabbit Man. The metal rabbit wears a bow tie, holds a walking cane in one hand and has a cardinal perched on the other. "I'm sure he'll become a regular feature in people's selfies," Mayor Mark Kruea said at the Nov. 6 unveiling.
Not everyone is sold. The statue is drawing criticism over its cost and the choice of an out-of-state artist, and some nearby workers and business owners are questioning the city's choice of artwork and why it didn't pick a local artist. Jason Greene, CEO of the Downtown Alliance, said the city met with local and out-of-area artists, and the Cultural Resources Committee chose the sculptor.
- Statue: $21,000, paid from the Public Art Fund
- Pavement and installation: $4,959
- Sculptor: Dale Rogers of Massachusetts
- Location: Fourth Avenue and Broadway
Rogers' work is on display well beyond Myrtle Beach
- $25,959
- total cost of the Rabbit Man project
- 100+
- cities with Rogers' works on display
- 27
- states where those cities are
Sources: WPDE, Post and Courier
Sources: WPDE, Post and Courier