>>> A NEW PUBLIC SCULPTURE IN 
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN GETTING A LOT 
OF ATTENTION AND REASON NOT SO 
MUCH ART BUT EVERYONE HAS THEIR 
OWN INTERPRETATION WHAT IT 
MEANS. 
>> KEMBERLY RICHARDSON HAS THE 
STORY. 
>> Reporter: THIS NEW PIECE OF 
ART HERE IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN 
-- 
>> IT LOOKS RELIGIOUS SYMBOL. 
>> Reporter: IT'S 22 FEET TALL 
AND A PERMANENT BRONZE MONUMENT 
HERE AND A FIVE-YEAR LABOR OF 
LOVE FOR HANK WILLIS THOMAS, 
HIS INSPIRATION THE ARTIST 
TELLS ME A BASKETBALL TEAM AND 
LADY LIBERTY. 
>> I SAW PICTURE OF A 
GLOBETROTTER STANDING IN FRONT 
OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND 
FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS MAGIC 
I WANTED TO ECHO. 
I THOUGHT BY TAKING THE BALL 
OFF AND HAVING THE FIGURE POINT 
TOWARDS THE SKY IT WOULD BE 
OPEN TO MORE INTERPRETATION. 
>> Reporter: THAT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT IS HAPPENING. 
>> IT'S LIKE TRUMP SAYING WE 
ARE NUMBER 1 IN MY SECOND 
THOUGHT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE 
COURAGE TO PUT UP THE MIDDLE 
FINGER. 
>> Reporter: HIS WORK IS BOLD, 
POWERFUL AND RELATABLE. 
THIS PIECE -- 
>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN ITS WAY IN 
TERMS OF FORM, SUPPLENESS -- 
>> Reporter: THE CITY HOPE IT 
CONVEYS A SENSE OF HOPE BUT IN 
OUR ACTIVIST SAID IT LOOKS TOO 
MUCH LIKE THE INFAMOUS GESTURE 
USED BY ISIS SUPPORTERS TELLING 
ME, QUOTE, THE CITY TRIVIALIZES 
ITS OWN ARTWORK BY CALLING IT A 
SIMPLE NUMBER 1 SIGN. 
THE CITY SAYS IT DIDN'T AND 
ASKED FOR THE TERRORISM LINK? 
>> IF SOMEONE SEES HOPE OR HATE 
IT'S UP TO THEM. 
I SEE HOPE. 
>> Reporter: ART
