Fifteen Million Dollars for New York City Waterfalls: Art or Business?

New York City is known for both art and business. She is also known for her extravagance and apparently she knows no boundaries. Yesterday, January 26, 2008, water began to flow, reportedly for the sake of art, from a project in the making since 2006, The New York City Waterfalls. Four 90-120 foot waterfalls have been strategically placed in New York Harbor to create a collective work of art entirely visible from New York City's South Street Seaport. The Statue of Liberty, also in New York Harbor, is 111 feet, 1 inch tall from heel to top of head, according to the National Park Service Handbook..

According to NY1News, The New York City Waterfalls are Danish artist Olafur Eliaasson's "baby". A baby that, business-wise, costs $15 million paid for with money raised by the Public Art Fund. In today's news broadcast, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "It [The Waterfalls] tells people that New Yorkers are open to new ideas and that we don't just care about business, don't just care about putting one foot in front of the other, what we care about is expanding our minds." It is quite an eloquent statement. The Mayor also said he expected The New York City Waterfalls to make the city and extra $55 million, which is quite the business-minded statement.

Some of the extra $55 million worth of business will generate directly from South Street Seaport, a site from which The New York City Waterfalls are highly visible. It is a location enjoyed by tourists and New York City residents alike. The Seaport's famous Pier 17 harbors many retail businesses with high-caliber shops such as Coach, and an array of good restaurants. It is the home of Bodies, the Exhibition and venue for a plethora of entertainment.

One of the Seaport's strongest allures, however, is its Circle Line Sightseeing Cruiseswith adult cruises ranging from $21 - $120 per person. My personal favorite is the Zephyr, a yacht, at $25 an hour and worth every penny. One hour coasting around New York Harbor absorbing the sea-air, sunshine, and spectacular views of New York City makes one feel like a new person. The Zephyr and its sea companion, the Patriot, are offering 30-minute tours of The New York City Waterfalls from now until mid-October priced at $10 per adult ticket. (Free ticket information available below).

In addition to the South Street Seaport revenue, New York City's entire hotel and tourist business may increase due to the sight-seeing appeal of The New York City Waterfalls.

The "Falls" will flow until Mid-October which is about three and a half months from now. If Mayor Bloomberg's estimate is correct, the money will flow into New York City at approximately $15.7 million per month.

Thus, we can see the business aspects to this art project, but what of the art part?

According to NY1 News, the artist, Eliasson, said he hopes people see the special properties of water. "Water has the ability to be both very elusive, and very much about dreams and expectations, and also water is very physical," he said. "It's big. It's heavy. It's noisy."

"In developing The New York City Waterfalls, I have tried to work with today's complex notion of public spaces," said Eliasson. "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," the artist said, according to The New York City Waterfalls website.

Rochelle Steiner, the Public Art Fund's director said of Eliasson, "He met the city on its own terms. In the sense of looking around and seeing what inspired him, and in turn inspired us to look at our city and hopefully everyone else who comes to the city as well," NY1 News reported.

I have been down to the South Street Seaport and cruised in the New York Harbor several times; one cannot help but look at the city. It is a spectacular view that demands one's attention.

In addition to being art, The New York City Waterfalls is reported to be eco-friendly. According to the New York City Waterfalls website, "The Waterfalls have been designed to be sensitive to the environment. The structures will not only protect fish, aquatic life, the river and the shoreline, but will also run on "green power"-electricity generated from renewable resources-for its operations."

So, whether it is eco-friendly business or eco-friendly art, you can still obtain free tickets for The New York City Waterfalls Tour by calling 1.866.925.4631. If you are unable to get through, use the "free tickets" link in the Resource area. As of today, free tickets are reserved for the next three weeks. You may reserve tickets for dates after July 16th.

The art spectacle that is The New York City Waterfalls is flowing for business. It will continue to do so every day from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when it will begin at 9 a.m. It will be illuminated every evening after sunset until Mid-October for the $15 million New York City Waterfalls is only on temporary display.

Sources:

New York City Waterfalls, New York City Waterfalls

Waterfalls Art Project Takes Life, NY1 News

Circle Line New York Around Manhattan Sightseeing Tours, Circle Line 42

Circle Line Downtown "The New York City Waterfalls" by Olafur Eliasson, Circle Line Downtown

Statue of Liberty Handbook, National Park Service