Although Olafur Eliasson’s ‘Waterfalls‘ might go down as one of the most boring public art projects to emerge in NYC since both the Cow Parade and The Gates combined, now is the best time to view the most exciting phase of the project: its demolition. For the next few weeks, the tree killing heaps of metal will be dismantled. |Gothamist|
The highly ambitious but relatively uninspiring public art project known as the NYC Waterfalls have at least one major critic, River Café’s owner Buzzy O’Keeffe. The 80-foot waterfall at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge is spreading saltwater onto his trees, turning them brown. O’Keeffe claims he planted the trees 32 years ago. But after a few months of the Waterfalls operating, the restauranteur’s beloved landscape at his waterfront eatery are “clearly showing signs of stress,” according to Parks Department First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanaugh. |NYP|
Wow, that’s it? Here’s one of the four waterfalls placed along the East River waterfront as part of a public arts project concepted by artist Olafur Eliasson. His $15.5 million “New York City Waterfalls” exhibit required 30 permits from various governmental agencies and will stay on display until October 13th. The 90 to 120 foot waterfalls will be turned on from dawn to dusk and pump 2.1 million gallons of brackish East River water an hour. Hopefully these water works get a little more interesting when they’re lit up after sunset with special lighting, cause otherwise the waterfalls are about exciting as draping saffron-colored nylon fabric over metal poles in Central Park and calling it art. The photo above was taken from the Manhattan bridge, here’s a flickr gallery of just about every angle and vantage point that can be shot.
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