Not just one tree, but many, many trees are growing in Brooklyn, thanks to the Public Art Fund and renowned artist Spencer Finch. “Lost Man Creek”, a large-scale, long term installation in the middle of the borough’s MetroTech Commons opened this weekend, and we stopped by to check it out.
What It Is
Tucked away at the eastern triangular lawn of MetroTech Commons, “Lost Man Creek” is a living artwork that recreates, at a 1:100 scale, a 790-acre section of the Redwood National Park in California. To create the piece, Finch, who often makes large-scale pieces that incorporate nature literally or figuratively, partnered with the Save the Redwoods League, which provided topographical and canopy height maps of a section of the protected forest. The impressive work took six week to install.
The result is a recreation measuring 4,500 square feet that features 4,000 young Dawn Redwoods. The trees will be provided with optimum living conditions in the urban environment thanks to specific planting techniques and an irrigation system. At the conclusion of the free, public exhibit, the trees will be rehoused.
From Above or Below
Aside from being a quite beautiful and soothing sight in a city environment, “Lost Man Creek” also provides visitors with the unique opportunity of being able to view the canopy of a Redwood forest from above. A viewing platform, accessed by a few easy flights of stairs enables one to look down on the installation, and if you think about it the right way, it’s a giant’s POV. (Less fantastical: the view from an airplane.)
To help give a sense of the scale of a real Redwood forest, a sign on the viewing platform points out that an actual Redwood would tower over the nearest, very tall building in the plaza.
You can also walk the perimeter, taking in the hills and valleys of the topography, as well as the rich soil and thousands of young plants up close.
In For the Long Haul
This forest will literally put down roots. The longest running partnership between the Public Art Fun and the Forest City Ratner Companies, Lost Man Creek will run for a year-and-a-half, so you’ve got time to catch it — and see it grow.
Intrigued by Finch’s work? He’ll be giving a Public Art Fund Talk at the New School on November 16 where he will focus on his various public and large-scale installations.
Lost Man Creek
Through May 13, 2018, dawn to dusk, daily
Tickets: Free
MetroTech Commons (Between Jay Street and Flatbush Avenue at Myrtle Avenue)
Downtown Brooklyn
Online: publicartfund.org
What’s your favorite public art in NYC now? Share it in the comments below!
— Mimi O’Connor
Need some fresh ideas?
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