Public Art Project Casts Rainbow Over Storm-Ravaged Communities In Show Of Solidarity
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A public art installation has brought a rainbow to New York after the storm that was Sandy.
Artist Yvette Mattern created a large rainbow over the city Tuesday night, using seven high-powered lasers.
WCBS 880's Jim Smith reports
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The project, "Global Rainbow, After the Storm," is in honor of superstorm Sandy victims, Mattern said.
"The trajectory is specifically pointed to Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach," Mattern told WCBS 880's Jim Smith.
The beams of light projected from the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District can be seen for 35 miles over Brooklyn and into Queens.
"Nobody's ever seen anything like it. People really freak out when they see it. It's super-futuristic," said Mattern.
The project was brought to New York by the Art Production Fund and coincides with two fundraisers to help Sandy victims being run by Waves for Water and New York Foundation for the Arts.
The rainbow will be visible again Wednesday and Thursday night from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Mattern, a Columbia University graduate and part-time New Yorker, said she hopes the rainbow offers comfort and brings solidarity to Sandy victims.
"Bring a smile and, hopefully, a feeling of hope that they'll get through it," Mattern told Smith. "It's a very peaceful piece also. Just quiet and elegant and beautiful."
The lasers were created by Lightwave International and use a minimal amount of electricity. According to the company, the power equivalent to what's used by two hair dryers is all it takes to send the beams 35 miles.
The display has previously been showcased in cities around the world.
Did you see the rainbow last night? Share your thoughts about the art project in the comments section below...
