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Waterfalls art project transforms East River

By Lauren Johnston, amNY.com Special Projects editor | Lauren.johnston@am-ny.com

4:06 PM EDT, June 26, 2008

Artist Installs Waterfalls Around New York City

Water flows down Denmark-born artist Olafur Eliasson's newly unveiled public art installation "The New York City Waterfalls" at the Brooklyn Bridge June 26, 2008 in New York City. Four massive waterfalls using water pumped from the river have been installed along the East River through mid-October 2008. (Mario Tama, Getty Images / June 26, 2008)

The East River has for years been indelibly linked to tales of mob misdoings and other shadowy deeds, but when Danish artist Olafur Eliasson looked into its murky waters he saw only beauty and possibility.

And now after months of anticipation, his vision of creating four mighty waterfalls along its banks has been realized and the towering structures will together pump out 35,000 gallons of water per minute until October.

They are the product of Eliasson's passion for the intersections between art and the environment, and also his gift to the people of New York.

"It's not my work of art anymore, it's your work of art. It belongs to the people of this city," he said at a press conference Thursday at the South Street Seaport.

There were dozens of people lined up at Pier 17 to board the first Circle Line boat tour of Eliasson's roaring falling waters. All four are visible from the South Street Seaport piers.

"I think it's just fabulous, a very good idea," said Mary Pope, who came with her husband and son from Westfield, N.J.

Michael Laufer, a tourist from Germany, said he's long been a fan of Eliasson's work.

"He's making a huge stride here in making this country more environmentally conscious," he said. "New York attracts a lot of tourism and the more people who see [the waterfalls], the better it is for all of us.

The waterfalls are designed to protect fish and aquatic life and the electricity used to operate them is offset by green power generated from renewable resources.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the influx of tourists coming to see the waterfalls is expected to generate about $55 million for the city. The falls cost about $15 million to create and were funded by private donations and grant money.

They are located on the Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, the piers just under the Brooklyn Promenade, Pier 35 in Manhattan and Governor's Island and will run most days from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The waterfalls are intended to provoke a more responsible relationship with the natural world, but said Bloomberg, they've also paved the way for others to see the city's streets, straits and parks as a blank canvas.

"For the artists of tomorrow, New York City is a place where big ideas can big dreams can be realized," he said.