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‘Fearless Girl’ statue stares down bronze Wall Street bull

By Aimee Ortiz Globe Staff,March 8, 2017, 7:48 a.m.
The "Fearless Girl" statue faced Wall Street's charging bull statue.Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

Move over bronze bull, there’s a new statue drawing attention on Wall Street in time for International Women’s Day.

On Tuesday, New Yorkers and tourists in lower Manhattan found themselves staring at a bronze little girl, with hands on her hips, staring down her famed Bovine counterpart.

Installed by State Street Global Advisors, a branch of Boston-based State Street Corp., the “Fearless Girl” statue was placed in the financial heart of NYC as a call for more women to serve on corporate boards.

The work is by artist Kristen Visbal, a Lewes, Del., artist who has created many bronze sculptures, ranging from sports figures to children and animals.

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The girl appears to be staring down the bull. Her head is held high. Her hands are firmly planted on her waist. Her pony-tail looks as if it’s in motion.

A plaque at her feet says: ‘‘Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference.’’

The new statue faces off the 7,000 pound “Charging Bull,” an 11-foot-tall bronze statue that has been displayed since 1989, according to The New York Times.

Sculptor Arturo Di Modica installed the bull without permits one night near the New York Stock Exchange as a tribute to the country’s recovery from the 1987 stock market crash, the Times reported. It was moved to its current location a few days later.

State Street also announced that it had adopted new guidelines to press 3,500 public companies in which it invests to increase the number of women on their boards.

“We believe good corporate governance is a function of strong, effective and independent board leadership,” Ron O’Hanley, chief executive officer of SSGA, said in a statement.

People photographed the "Fearless Girl" statue. She makes a difference." Mark Lennihan/Associated Press
The “The Fearless Girl” sculpture by artist Kristen Visbal. JUSTIN LANE/European Pressphoto Agency
A woman placed a red scarf on a statue. Mark Lennihan/Associated Press
“The Fearless Girl” faced the Wall Street bull. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Here is some reaction on Twitter:

Material from the Associated Press and Bloomberg was used in this report. Beth Healy of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Aimee Ortiz can be reached at aimee.ortiz@globe.com. Follow her on twitter @aimee_ortiz.

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