Understanding Israeli Settlements

I honestly can't understand why Israel continues to build settlements in the West Bank and how they are able to get away with it.

My Look Child!

On Saturday, we rowed to Governors Island with the Village Community Boathouse to attend the City of Water Day organized by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, which I'll write more about later. But we decided to explore the island like the adventurers we are and found ourselves inside the Governors Island Hospital. In one room, we found this written on the wall. It reminded me of that Doctor Who episode where Sally Sparrow was warned by a future Doctor about the Weeping Angels.

Relief

The MIT Boathouse at the Charles River in Boston.

My Future Dream Jobs

This would be an awesome, freelance job.

Or,

I should move to India and work for magazines. I'm sure the market is more open there. And, hey, they're big magazines.

Or,

just adventure around like these old guys.

Fireworks on the BQE

A belated Fourth of the July post, but oh well. On my way to Clinton Hill that July 4th, we got stuck on the BQE from the LIE and decided to stop on the shoulder and enjoy the show.

Victims of the Victimized

In this Time article about Khaled Kasab Mahameed, a Palestinian man who is trying to make other Palestinians aware of the Holocaust and the horrible things done to the Jews by the Nazis, he says:

"[W]e Palestinians are the victims of the terrible things that were inflicted on the Jews by the Holocaust."

which is a powerful and true statement.

Chasing New York City's Waterfalls, Brooklyn-Rail Style

My photo essay in the upcoming July/August issue of the Brooklyn Rail. Click the image to see the full version.

Chasing New York's Waterfalls

The Waterfalls under the Brooklyn Bridge.

In New York City, you can find cascading waterfalls right in the middle of the East River. This sounds impossible in the city, but of course, these aren’t natural waterfalls. Instead of falling from cliffs or mountains, these waters churn from metal structures—but at least the water’s real.

The waterfalls are part of Dutch and Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s current exhibit: The New York City Waterfalls, unveiled on June 26. The four waterfalls are located throughout New York Harbor: Under the Brooklyn Bridge, between Pier 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, on Pier 35 in Manhattan and along the north shore of Governors Island.

Courtesy of New York Water Taxi’s “Unofficial” Tour, I was able to check out the waterfalls, as well as the rest of New York Harbor, and learn about New York’s history a bit more. Launching from South Street Seaport’s Pier 17, the four waterfalls could be seen. Before we saw the waterfalls up close, we explored the rest of New York Harbor first. Our guide pontificated on the origins of Battery Park City, the Hudson River, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge Park.


The Waterfalls at Governors Island.

The metal structures resemble scaffolding, stirring up imagery of New York City construction. Using intake filter pools located in front of the waterfall, East River water is collected without harming fish. The pump sucks the water to the top of the scaffolding. The water falls down into the East River through a filter that resembles a cheese grater and creates the frothy waterfalls-look. Around each waterfall is black piping to deter boaters and swimmers from approaching too closely. At night, the Waterfalls will be lit up with LED lights powered by renewable energy. The heights of the Waterfalls vary slightly from 90 to 120 feet tall, mimicking New York’s skyline.


A close-up of the Waterfalls under the Brooklyn Bridge.

New York City is surrounded by water, and Eliasson wants New Yorkers to become aware of their aqueous environment. With that, you have the waterfalls, which showcase New York’s relationship and proximity to the water.

“In developing The New York City Waterfalls, I have tried to work with today’s complex notion of public spaces,” Eliasson said in a press release. “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 relationship to the spectacular surroundings, and I hope to evoke experiences that are both individual and engage a sense of collectivity.”


The Waterfalls at Pier 35 in Manhattan.

The Public Art Fund and the City and State of New York, and especially Mayor Michael Bloomberg, pushed for these temporary exhibits throughout the city.

Eliasson describes his inspiration as coming “from natural elements and phenomena to create sculptures and installations that evoke sensory experiences.” He often plays with light and water in his works, such as the Green river in different Asian, American and European cities.

Eliasson is also featured at the Museum of Modern Art and P.S. 1 with his exhibit Take your time, a retrospective of his works, including new pieces.
Plans for the waterfalls began in March, 2006 and construction started in March, 2008.The Waterfalls will run through October 13, seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.


The Waterfalls under the Brooklyn Bridge at night.

Jason Bateman

Since Hancock's coming out today and one of the loves of my life is starring in it, I present you pictures of the love of my life: Jason Bateman. Courtesy of ohnotheydidnt, we found out that Bateman was being interviewed by MTV and that the public was invited to the taping. Of course, we jumped on that and waited patiently at Sony Plaza. There weren't as many people as I thought there would be, though I did see a New School kid there. Josh and I got to sit in the front row, right in front of Bateman himself. Interviewed by Josh Horowitz, Batemen discussed filming Hancock, working with Will Smith, and, of course, Arrested Development and the hopeful movie version. See more here and here.