The New York City Waterfalls, a new public art installation by Olafur Eliasson, starts in the Big Apple tomorrow. The installation features four waterfalls in the East River and New York Harbor in the following locations:

• Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage - Brooklyn side (seen left)
• Governors Island
• Between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn
• Pier 35 in Manhattan

Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, best known for “The Weather Project” at the Tate Modern where he made made realistic representations of the Sun, sky, mist and wind, had this to say about “The New York City Waterfalls” in his artist’s statement for the exhibition:

“When water flows down the East River, we tend to see it as a simple surface, framed by a neutral urban waterfront. By elevating it into waterfalls, I wish to amplify its physical and tangible presence while exposing the dynamics of natural forces such as gravity, wind and daylight. My idea is to encourage people to identify more with the waterfront of New York City; this is a call for the revitalization of areas that until recently have been under-utilized as creative and recreational spaces because people have focused primarily on the interior grid of the City. There is a huge unrealized potential waiting to be explored and this is located right at our feet.”

You can takepart by learning more about Habitat for Humanity, one of the most prominent non-profit organizations working to rehabilitate housing in both urban areas and throughout the rest of the country, and internationally.

“The New York City Waterfalls”

June 26, 2008 - October 13, 2008

Lower East River & New York Harbor

New York, NY

LINKS:

Gizmodo: First Pics of NYC Waterfalls in Action, Set to Launch Fully Tomorrow

inhabitat: NYC sprouts waterfalls thanks to Olafur Eliasson

TIME: NYC Waterfalls to turn on Thursday