The Significant Otter

What distinguishes the 14th Street/Eighth Avenue subway station in Manhattan from all the others is the whimsical bronze sculptures of Tom Otterness, peaking out from strange corners to amuse the commuters. Titled "Life Underground," the 2001 installation was inspired in part by the 19th century caricatures of Thomas Nast published in Harper's Weekly. To me they've always suggested an amalgamation of the troublesome brooms from Disney's Sorcerer's Apprentice, Gyro Gearloose's lightbulb-headed helper, and Rich Uncle Pennybags from the Monopoly board game.