Artist creates giant 65-foot-long hot dog sculpture for New York City plaza

Times Square may seem like the worst place to savor the subtleties of contemporary art, but Brooklyn-based artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw believe their project for the chaotic Manhattan square is a sausage breaker. The pair erected a 65-foot-long hot dog at the so-called “Crossroads of the World,” which features a giant bun, a meaty frankfurter and a bright mustard. Every day at noon, a hydraulic lift lifts the giant junk food sculpture—Hot dogs in the city (2024) – Flying into the air, confetti shoots from the top.

For the collaborating artists, this monument to America’s preferred processed meat product is a tongue-in-cheek homage and critique of everything the hot dog symbolizes, from a patriotic staple in barbecue and eating contests to a symbol of the country’s meatpacking industry. Exploitation and corporate greed are evident.

“This is the sculpture we deserve, this is what we as a society have created, this is the pinnacle of culture, in so many weird and interesting ways,” Outlaw said. Catron added: “The history of the hot dog, how it’s made, how it got to where it is today, it’s really an American story, for better and for worse, from the people who make it and the people who sell it to the people who eat it. The people and the people who profit from it are all wrapped up in this project, which is fun and silly—but then you start digging deeper and it starts to get a little darker.

Organized by the Times Square Center for the Arts, this spectacular event is accompanied by a series of public programs. These include a wrestling match with professional and drag wrestlers (May 3), a canine beauty pageant to determine the “Hottest Dog” (May 10), and a qualifier for Nathan’s International Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (May 17) and a hot dog workshop with writers, activists and street vendor representatives (June 9).Additionally, to demonstrate the hot dog’s bipartisan appeal, the artists encouraged the public to vote Choose their favorite condiment and the winner will be announced during the closing ceremony (June 13).

“These events are helping us tell more stories,” Outlaw said. “We have a giant hot dog sculpture, and yes, it’s easy for everyone to digest, but the events happening at the same time really help flesh out why we’re doing this project and the story that’s important here.”