[Bebeto Matthews/AP]
New York City likes to have art in place just like C-ville but on a larger more expensive scale. The latest installation is called, “The New York City Waterfalls”. Their last public art installation was “The Gates” in 2005, when artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped Central Park in 23 miles of orange fabric. It created a beautiful river of color snaking its way along the park’s walkways and through the bare trees and over the white snow-covered ground. The HBO special on it said that they were trying to,
” transform the winter darkness of the park into a garden of light and color,” and “bring art to the people of New York City.”
The newest huge outdoor exhibit for NYC is 4 giant man-made waterfalls by artist Olafur Eliasson. Pumps suck up water through tubes to the top of 90- 120 feet scaffolding, where it cascades back down into the river. Yes, it is some great engineering but is it art? It makes me think of an amusement park water ride. The artist claims,
“I have tried to work with today’s complex notion of public spaces. The Waterfalls appear in the midst of the dense social, environmental, and political tissue that makes up the heart of New York City. They will give people the possibility to reconsider their relationships to the spectacular surroundings, and I hope to evoke experiences that are both individual and enhance a sense of collectivity.”
Yeah, ok. I guess I don’t get it. Maybe it’s a much different experience in person. On the other hand, they look pretty cool at night when they’re all lit up but I still can’t get the amusement park/Las Vegas associations out of my head.
[Timothy Clary/Getty Images]
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it’s just pretty. all that mumbo jumbo about “…the midst of the dense social, environmental, political tissue…” is ego.
it’s pretty, and it’s neat. it’s a 6.
I think i’m with pinkie…..i think it might be artists taking themselves too seriously? i am also an artist…. a self-taught one…..and have had exhibits, etc….so, i too understand what i means to want to evoke emotion, and to want to take the viewer through their experiences, and maybe make them come out with a different opinion, with a different feeling after vewing my work….but, is this art? maybe fantastic engineering…..it is beautiful! I do give them that……something I for sure could not do myself…therefore, i have to give them all the credit that is do….but, that said….something i have found in the art industry, is artists taking themselves and their work too seriously, over-thinking, and explaining over the general population’s heads…….I will not argue that we should take our work seriously—if we dont, how do we expect anyone else to? but, it is this ego, and this persona of “i am an artiste”, that is just alittle too much for me….and this heavy explanation for a waterfall under a bridge…well frankly, that just fits right in there for me. maybe i am too simple, but, i try humility every time, and it keeps me in check. and yeah–parlie– that mumbo jumbo artsy-fartsy crud about “…. the midst of the dense social, environmental, poliical tissue..”, you’re right–its ego. right on. it is just pretty. anyhow– enough of my ranting.