Turning NYC Water Tanks into Works of Art: The Water Tank Project...

Turning NYC Water Tanks into Works of Art: The Water Tank Project

After an experience in Ethiopia, Africa, Mary Jordan made a promise to help bring attention to the water crisis around the world. When she returned to New York, the site of the 17,000 water towers perched on the buildings around the city sparked an idea that turned into the Water Tank Project.

Water tanks are one on the most identifiable landmarks in New York City, and is no stranger to repurposing, by turning these tanks into works of art as a vestige on raising awareness on water contamination and scarcity of clean water to over 1 billion people around the world, this project hope to “inspires and encourage people to learn how they can make a difference”.

Promising to transform over 300 water tanks on rooftops across NYC, so far, many artists have signed up on board to make a difference, among them -Sigrid Calon, Bruce Weber, Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Jeff Koons, Andy Goldsworthy, Marilyn Minter, Carrie Mae Weems, and Lawrence Weiner.

To transfer the artworks to the tanks, they are printed on to large vinyl materials then the installations are done by The Isseks Brothers, a family-owned business dating back to 1890 that constructs and maintains water tanks.

So far, there are ten completed artworks installed in parts of Hells Kitchen, Chelsea, Meatpacking, Flatiron, Chinatown, Soho and Financial District. To find out more on where to #lookup and up-to-date art reveals check out the project site.
photo credit: Water Tank Project