CULTURE | TRUE OR FALSE

The Hottest New York Art Exhibit is So Big, It Won’t Fit in a Museum

By Cathleen McGuigan | NEWSWEEK
July 7-14, 2008 issue

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  • Posted By: MontanaIR @ 06/29/2008 3:53:51 PM

    Is there not a better way to spend taxpayers money. To the Private donors; help the city some of those program that help the poor. Does this improve anyone standard of living? With so many people and city programs failing for lack of funding, how can you justify something like this. I am guessing that is costing at least $500USD to run the pumps. Who is paying for that? There are many, many people that cannot afford to pay their utilities each month and you are just throwing money that could help them into the wind, literally. The only people that enjoy this type of "art" are those that can afford extravagance. The people that depend on a paycheck to get by in life do not care about such opulence. Tourism? The tourist will come anyway. They are not coming from far and wide to see a man made waterfall. They are coming to see New York City. All we seem to be able to do anymore, as a society, is waste, waste, waste. The harder times get, the more governments try to make us feel better by wasting money on things like this instead of actually doing something to help alleviate the problems that cause the hard times. You wonder how we can survive as a society with our local, state, and federal governments running things the way they are.

    • Posted By: loberant @ 07/02/2008 1:11:01 PM

      I often wonder if people who just skim articles should comment.
      They noted that the 15.5 million dollar investment will generate 55 million in additional tourist dollars pouring into NYC. That's nearly 40 million in "profit" going to hotels, hot dog vendors, restuarants, stores, and tour operators. They'll pay taxes on those profits, as well as pay their employees for the additional hours they worked and the money will again be "respent" in NYC by those people who earn it.

      Even though I have to go to NYC for a family trip in late October I plan on going in July b/c of the waterfalls.. I'll go to the museusms, eat at a nice restaurant and maybe catch a show... None of which I would have done if it had not been for the draw of the waterfalls.

  • Posted By: mitra_k @ 06/29/2008 7:04:56 PM

    How much energy does the pump consume to get all that water up?? is it based on a self sustainable system? is it based on hydroelectric installations? i have nothing against an architectural installation, as long as it is seamlessly woven into the landscape, and does not cause any ill effects on the environment ... rather compliments it!

  • Posted By: mitra_k @ 06/29/2008 6:49:32 PM

    frankly, the first glance of the video felt like an over-flowing water tank. it appealed to me as "HAZARDOUS"!

    How much energy does the pump consume to get all that water up?? is it based on a self sustainable system? is it based on hydroelectric installations? i have nothing against an architectural installation, as long as it is seamlessly woven into the landscape, and does not cause any ill effects on the environment ... rather compliments it!

  • Posted By: mitra_k @ 06/29/2008 6:47:24 PM

    frankly, the first glance of the video felt like an over-flowing water tank. it appealed to me as "HAZARDOUS"!

    How much energy does the pump consume to get all that water up?? is it based on a self sustainable system? is it based on hydroelectric installations? i have nothing against an architectural installation, as long as it is seamlessly woven into the landscape, and does not cause any ill effects on the environment ... rather compliments it!

  • Posted By: ndrock @ 06/29/2008 4:52:33 PM

    Only someone from NY would think that a waterfall is new art. But then most NY city people think with their nose up so far, they won't know real art anymore if the old masters came and sat on their faces. NY City folk seem to believe they have a special sight when it comes to art. NY city folk are so full of themselves.

  • Posted By: bennettsusan @ 06/29/2008 10:17:34 AM

    Countryfried: Your remarks show what a small mind you have...all city people are weird...New York (which you mispelled) Shitty. Maybe next we could make blanket ignorant statements about country people. And you accuse them of not having a life!

    I, for one, would hate to live in a world devoid of art and music. They have been part of the human experience since cave people drew on walls. They live on well past the artists lifetime for future generations to enjoy. They pass along the human experience in ways a history book can't quite capture. Think of Michelangelo, Picasso, Renoir, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin or even the Beatles.

    So to answer your question of who cares about a waterfall in NYC? I do, and so do a lot of people. You instruct others to get a life. I instruct you to get a soul.

  • Posted By: RO in Reno @ 06/29/2008 5:49:01 AM

    Could be a sign that we are returning to a more civil state of mind.
    Make art not war

  • Posted By: joykilgo@hotmail.com @ 06/28/2008 11:25:23 PM

    In the middle of a "green" environment push, this seems like a lot of energy use.

  • Posted By: countryfried @ 06/28/2008 8:07:32 PM

    Oh Really ! Who gives a crap about a waterfall in NYC? I care as much about a waterfall in New Yourk Shitty, as I do the lights in Lost Vegas. City people are so weird. And wasteful too. Get a life !

  • Posted By: countryfried @ 06/28/2008 8:04:44 PM

    OH REALLY ! Who cares about a waterfall in NYC? I care as much about a waterfall in New York Shitty, as I do the lights of Lost Vegas. City people are so weird. and wasteful too.

  • Posted By: rab015 @ 06/28/2008 6:02:55 PM

    For the those who live in New York and can enjoy waterfalls..great. For the rest of us who don't live in NY...who cares.

  • Posted By: anwill @ 06/28/2008 4:57:49 PM

    I'm afraid that Olafur Eliasson isn't the first person to have this idea and make it a reality. In Edmonton Alberta Canada there is a man made waterfall which is also lit at night on the High Level Bridge. Sorry but that's been done already

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