Dumbo NYC

125 years ago, at 2pm on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge officially opened. New York City is celebrating the bridge’s birthday with a week of events. With Dumbo situated at the foot of the bridge, the Dumbo Improvement District, with support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC Department Of Transportation organized and unveiled a permanent public art project and upgrade to the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway at Washington and Prospect Streets today at 2pm. The permanent installation features fiber optic and LED lighting and art (consistent with their environmental efforts), a map and signage under the bridge, and metal signs and directional compass on the sidewalks.

Dumbo Improvement District Executive Director Tucker Reed, NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Lisa Kim, Director, Percent for Art Program were in Dumbo to unveil these walkway improvements. Marty Markowitz said, “With these beautiful new signs and lights, visitors will have an easier time locating the Bridge’s pedestrian walkway and breathtaking views, as well as the wonders of Dumbo, the epicenter of ‘hip’ in Brooklyn.” As many Dumbo residents can attest, visitors and tourists to the area used to be confused about where to go for the Bridge, or directions to the park, Brooklyn Heights, or a neighboring community. Not only will these signs help guide them back to Brooklyn Bridge or Manhattan, but also liven up the previously dark underpass with unique and interesting lighting.

Coinciding with the public art lighting, the 2008 celebration will kick off with a public birthday party on Thursday, May 22nd at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park DUMBO, featuring live music by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Grucci fireworks, and the unveiling of special bridge lighting that will illuminate the bridge from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Memorial Day. (More at nyc.gov)

The signage and public art lighting installation was created by Emphasis Design, Tillet Lighting Design and KT3D, and is entitled “This Way.”

{Dumbo Improvement District 2007 Initiatives, 04Mar2007}
{Brooklyn Bridge Lighting Flickr Set}

There will be a dedication at 5:30pm today, for Tom Otterness’ Large Covered Wagon. The 15.5 foot long, seven feet tall bronze sculpture is located on the corner of Prospect Street and Washington Street in Clumber Corner. The Brooklyn-based Otterness created Large Covered Wagon in his DUMBO studio where he worked for many years; the Otterness workshop has recently moved to larger space in Gowanus. According to the plaque next to the statue, the project is made possible by a grant from Two Trees Management Co. and the Walentas Foundation and sponsored by the Dumbo Improvement District. While this art is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, a dark past surfaced on the McBrooklyn blog. Both McBrooklyn and Brooklyn Daily Eagle received an apology to a past regrettable incident from the artist who said that “It was an indefensible act that I am deeply sorry for”. The installation will be on view through January 2009.

{Dumbo on the Range, 12Apr2008, Brooklyn Paper}
{Otterness Does DUMBO, 13Apr2008, Gothamist}
{Brooklyn’s vibrant arts community is getting a really huge humorous Sculpture, 13Apr2008, Artbistro}
{Artist Otterness Apologizes for Decades-Old Dog-Killing Incident, 14Apr2008, Brooklyn Daily Eagle}

Where is Clumber Corner? Dog owners are probably familiar with this place. The answer is after the jump below.
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