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On this day in
1830 Albert Bierstadt, American painter of grandiose scenes of the American West, was born.
1899 Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc Paris, composer and pianist, was born
1986 died Juan Rulfo, Mexican novelist, short story writer, and photographer
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Event in New York: Olafur Eliasson
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| Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
A major new work of temporary public art by internationally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson, The New York City Waterfalls, will be on display in New York City from mid-July to mid-October 2008.
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Pier 35 (Manhattan) - New York City Waterfalls (artist’s rendering) © Olafur Eliasson 2008 Courtesy Public Art Fund |
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Commissioned by the Public Art Fund, the project consists of four monumental, man-made waterfalls installed for three months at four sites along the shores of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island: one by the Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, one between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, one in Lower Manhattan at Pier 35, and one on the north shore of Governors Island. The 90 to 120-foot tall installations, which have been designed to protect water quality and aquatic life, will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and will be lit after sunset, adding a striking element to New York City’s iconic skyline. The Waterfalls will be visible by land and boat, and because of their proximity to one another, viewers will be able to see multiple waterfalls from various vantage points in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Governors Island.
“Public art is a signature of New York City and we are proud to welcome Olafur Eliasson’s exciting new project, the Waterfalls,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Not only does public art excite and inspire New Yorkers, it helps draw visitors and adds millions of dollars into our economy. Olafur Eliasson’s innovative and monumental project reflects the revitalization of our waterfront throughout the five boroughs, and I thank the Public Art Fund for bringing this unforgettable work to our City while taking steps to protect the environment.”
Born in Copenhagen in 1967, Eliasson is considered one of his generation’s most influential artists. Throughout his career, he has taken inspiration from natural elements and phenomena, such as light, wind, fog, and water, to create sculptures and installations that evoke sensory experiences. He is perhaps best known for The weather project (2003) at Tate Modern in London, a giant sun made of 200 yellow lamps, mirrors and mist that transformed the museum’s massive Turbine Hall and drew over 2 million visitors during its five-month installation.
Piers 4 and 5 (Brooklyn) - New York City Waterfalls (artist’s rendering) © Olafur Eliasson 2008 Courtesy Public Art Fund |
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“ One of Eliasson’s great strengths as an artist is his ability to captivate viewers, which he will do by integrating the spectacular beauty of nature into the urban landscape on a dramatic scale,” said Steiner, curator of The New York City Waterfalls.
Eliasson’s work often involves industrial materials that, when brought together, create dramatic installations that are as beautiful as they are unexpected. The New York City Waterfalls will be constructed using building elements that are ubiquitous throughout New York: scaffolding is the backbone of the structures, and pumps will bring water from the East River to the top; the water then falls from heights of 90 to 120 feet back into the river. Fish and aquatic life are protected by filtering the water through intake pools suspended in the river. To build the Waterfalls, Public Art Fund has partnered with Tishman Construction Corporation and has engaged a team of design, engineering and construction professionals.
Further Information
Olafur Eliasson
The New York City Waterfalls
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