Commissioned by Cleveland Public Art for the City of Cleveland. Opens late 2010.
Introduction
The mixed residential and industrial neighborhood of Nottingham is an unusual site for a public artwork. It does not host the type of site one generally associates with public art—large parks, public buildings or corporate plazas. The lack of a traditional context, the request that the work have a relationship to the City of Cleveland’s Division of Water, while also providing an amenity for the neighborhood, make this a particularly challenging endeavor. Furthermore, given that this is in many ways an isolated neighborhood as it lacks retail establishments that attract visitors this is not so much a public artwork, but rather a neighborhood artwork.
While developing my proposal I immediately set out to create a site that would be a respite—a place where people would want to gather and relax. As in previous works I sought to augment and activate existing elements of the site and make the site itself an essential element of the work. All these elements combine to create a kind of urban earthwork that is playful, romantic and as entertaining as it is functional.
Work Description
The work for the 9,000 square foot site that extends from Nottingham Road to R. J. Taylor Park would create a new main entrance for the park and provide a fun and romantic area for people to gather. A path of perforated pavers that allow the grass to grow through the pavers and partially camouflage it meanders through the site from the Nottingham Road sidewalk to an existing R. J. Taylor Park path. A thin steel 8-foot high wall with an ivy-covered trellis would form a barrier between the east side of the property and the rather unsightly electric sub-station. A similar fence with ivy on both sides would provide a visual and sound barrier for the neighbors to the west. A 150-foot clothesline-like seemingly functional labyrinthine of large light blue water pipes would zigzag through the site. Large water valves, gauges, gaskets and pumps like those found in a city water pump station would adorn the pipes. Four “porch” swings hang from the overhead water pipes. These are not traditional porch swings but rather aluminum semi-circular swings that look like they were cut from a giant colander. The swings are attached to the water pipes by three pipes with ball and socket joints at each end which allow one the gently sway in any direction. One swing is large enough to accommodate five adults; two can accommodate three adults and the last is designed for two. Unlike traditional straight park benches this semi-circular design fosters interaction and conversation. Toward the middle of the site the pipe, at its highest point, is sixteen feet overhead. There is a large oval drain made of the same perforated material as the benches and a stainless-steel old-fashion water hand-pump under the overhead pipe. The equivalent of a few cups of water rains down from the pipe overhead when the pump handle is pushed down. It is a refreshing, albeit very brief, shower.
At night LED lights located above each of the swings and the “shower” will gently illuminate the site maintaining both a romantic and a safe environment.
Conclusion
With an economy of means Nottingham Falls creates a celebratory park entrance and a beautiful spot for neighbors to gather who might not otherwise have casual encounters as the neighborhood lacks a retail-shopping district. The artwork raises the visibility of the City of Cleveland Division of Water and fosters a greater appreciation for our water supply by requiring people to exert some physical effort to enjoy the benefits of a refreshing shower.
