Photo Essay: Urban Waterfalls

Public art instillations occasionally change the look of New York City, such as when Christo’s “Gates” exhibit beautifully smothered Central Park with suspended saffron colored fabric. “The New York City Waterfalls,” this summer’s sponsored display, is a creation of artist Olafur Eliasson and comprised of four man-made waterfalls situated on the city’s harbor. They tower above the East River in up to 120 feet of scaffolding, a staple of the city’s every-day landscape, and are intended to “integrate the spectacular beauty of nature into the urban landscape on a dramatic scale.” Utilizing over 2 million gallons of filtered water an hour, they put on a display well into the evening while softly illuminated. Though the falls aren’t a permanent addition to the city, they have been active since the end of June and will entertain well into October.