A new life-size sculpture at Giving Tree Café in central Phoenix aims to offer a sign of hope to the community after the challenges of the past couple of years.
‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,’ a new sculpture at the Giving Tree Café in central Phoenix, is intended to symbolize hope and a confidence in the future (photo courtesy of Ampersand PR).
Based on the iconic 1932 Ebbets photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” the sculpture replicates the image of 11 steelworkers photographed while eating lunch on a girder more than 800 feet above the ground. The workers were part of the crew responsible for building the 69-story RCA building, now the Rockefeller Center. At the time, the U.S. was in the throes of the most devastating depression in history, and the erection of the building signaled hope and a confidence in the future.
According to the café owner, David Warr, the similarities in the eras and the symbolism behind the memorable image are what prompted him to ensure the sculpture, created by sculptor Blake Emory and produced by Gregory Kirschenbaum, has a permanent home.
“‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper’ stands as a testament to our resourcefulness and resilience. Our community has been through a challenging couple of years. Yet, we pulled ourselves up from our bootstraps, and we’ve grown stronger,” said Warr.
Giving Tree Café is located at 2024 N. 7th St., Suite 11. It is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and serves all day breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information, call 480-630-0200 or visit www.givingtreecafe.com.
