June 26, 2008
Opinion Poll: NYC Waterfalls, Yay or Nay?
No matter what you think, these falls are going to be big in Japan.
Now that we've all had a chance to see the NYC Waterfalls, at least in pictures, from the land and water, let us know what you think so far. Keep in mind that there is still the nighttime perspective to come, during which the falls with be lit up until 9 p.m. And while the NYC Waterfalls are obviously no match for Niagara when seen close up, they do convey a winning charm when unexpectedly glimpsed from afar, from spots like the Williamsburg Bridge. (Guess it's no secret how we're voting.)
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Eh, I don't know. I'll wait until I get down there and see for myself before I develop a more solid opinion.
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The biggest problem is where they are sited. If they were sited in various inland sites like Madison Square or Times Square they would be exciting. Even then they would lack any historical meaning. There were never big falls in New York City. They are fountains. And not very good looking fountains at that.
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Before you read this just know I tried to look for any positives on this project. That being said.....
I have seen the falls and it is a complete waste of money and energy. Whenever the wind blows (and it doesn't have to be very hard) the falls turn into a ball of mist. A mist of smelly East River water. Plus, you can ALWAYS see the metal scaffold behind the falls. Maybe a silk screened wall hiding the scaffolding would have improved the look.
I am quite sure there will be times when the light hits the falls just right and there is no wind and they will look beautiful. However, are those fleeting moments worth the MILLIONS of dollars that are being spent on this?? I think not.
Let us not even factor in the fact that we are all supposed to not use our air conditioners too much during the summer so we can conserve energy....BUT the city can run these idiotic things for 15 hours a day for 110 days???
Maybe this was a good idea in theory, but it is lame in practice and in this dying economy of ours it is just a complete waste of money and energy.
For those of you who think that most of this is being paid by private donations....I have a bridge to sell you with a lovely waterfall beneath it!
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see the problem with the waterfalls is that they are being promoted. Locals might go out their way to see them if they would any performance or artistic expression. but its not in any way SIGNIFICANT to the way we live. really its just more tourist trap crap. which is fine really. for tourists it a day outside of times square-midtown. i say the longer we have tourists on boats the less they are standing on a street corner, lost (ITS A GRID!) and looking skyward with a map hanging from their gucci shoulder bag and blocking traffic. i guess i'd call it art. generally. as if most anything inexplicable might be categorized that way.
now if they just showed up one day, without heavy handed public promotion they would be a sensation. in that way they would not need any explanation or rationalization. public art is best when it is unexpected, anomalous, mysterious and fantastic. i call this display crass.
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The waterfall beside the McGraw Hill building is more impressive than this.
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like many things in NYCity, it will look 100% better when night falls. when the city turns on that magical note that is missing during the day.
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Is the Paley Park waterfall still working? How about the Noguchi waterfall at 666 Fifth Avenue?
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Oh one more the water fall inside Olympic Tower.
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It's not The Gates.
Not even close.
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Can river trash get into the waterfall? How about dead fish or...a body?
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take it back to Japan and leave it there
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Now if they put some ice in there, they could air condition the bridge
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I somehow expected a lot more water... Kinda just looks like scaffolding with mist coming off of it...
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They might look kinda pretty, but I am already so sick of tourists taking photos of 'em while standing in the bike lane of the Brooklyn Bridge. The tourists on the bridge are bad enough in the summer on a regular day. This is just awful. I'm really gonna hit one of 'em soon, and it's not going to be my fault.
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$15.5 million? Geez- Seems like some water could be pumped over a few scaffoldings for FAR less than that!
Lame.
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The Circle Line is loving this shit; that's for sure!
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They look kinda neat to me. And they're doing what all art should do: provoke discussion. That alone is a mark of their success.
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Haven't seen them yet, but wanted to make a point about the visible scaffolding: that's part of the work. Eliasson's pieces make clear how the work works. Granted, that's more interesting & relevant for the upward-flowing water "falls", which he has already done elsewhere. The downward flowing falls seem by extension a bit of a letdown.
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I see three of the waterfalls from the terrace of my apartment... So, seeing the construction, testing, and turning on of these fountains makes me a bit more positive to it. They are very minimalist, but at the same time, very droll. They are alright during the day but at night, things seem to change. I am all for public "art" works projects, but this one really needs to grow, and possibly be on for longer that what it is set for to be any useful.
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I agree with Maybrick2001 most people who live in NYC see it as a waste of time and money. The only upside is tourist are supposed to spend 55million to visit this "work of art". It just seems for 15 million that you could do a lot better than what was presented. You also have to remember that Con Ed is providing the power for this "art" for free.
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Aww, you guys are so cranky! Isn't it great to live in a city that would actually do something kooky and a little bit risky like this? And as mentioned, at least it has everyone talking. I think they're kind of cool (though I wish they were bigger and there were more of them)(and that they had colored lights)(and go-go dancers).
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go look at them at least, everything looks lame from your 13" monitor in your grandma's basement doesn't it?
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worst project since the gates. why don't they donate the millions wasted on this to a worthy cause?
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go look at them at least, everything looks lame from your 13" monitor in your grandma's basement doesn't it?
fyi: also looks lame on my 24" monitor from my luxury building.
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The NYT seems to like it:
But their quiet heightens their strangeness, day or night. It is as if they were in their own movie, a silent one. And in a way they are. They could almost fool King Kong into thinking he is back home. They are the remnants of a primordial Eden, beautiful, uncanny signs of a natural nonurban past that the city never had.
a primordial, natural nonurban Eden, with scaffolding.