Manmade waterfalls exhibit closes in NYC

NEW YORK

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 01:38:14

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Four manmade waterfalls cascaded to a close Monday, ending an ambitious public art project that inspired both admiration and complaints.

Organizers estimate millions of visitors and residents saw the eye-catching installation during its 15-week run in the East River and New York Harbor.

"It has surpassed our expectations _ in terms of artistic expression, public response and feat of engineering," Public Art Fund President Susan K. Freedman said.

The nonprofit group commissioned the $15.5 million piece, the city's biggest public art undertaking since "The Gates" in Central Park in 2005.

The exhibit got an environmental award from the city and garnered attention around the world, in part through hundreds of videos and photographs viewers posted online.

But the project also generated complaints from some neighborhood groups and businesses. They said salty mist from the waterfalls was damaging waterfront shrubs, trees and plants along Brooklyn Heights' popular promenade. In response, the Public Art Fund last month cut the exhibit's weekly hours in half.

Individuals, foundations and corporations _ including Mayor Michael Bloomberg's media company _ donated a total of $13.5 million toward the cost of the exhibit, titled "The New York City Waterfalls." A state agency covered the rest.

Ranging from 90- to 120-feet tall, the waterfalls together spurted about 35,000 gallons of water per minute. They were created by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.

"I hope they will continue to reverberate in people's minds even after they end, thus emphasizing that art in public spaces really matters," he said.

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