Just can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked around Union Square in NYC and wondered what the heck this smoking thing was all about. So curiosity got the best of me and I finally looked it up. Good ol’ google to the rescue!
Looks like we have a couple of incredible artists Kristin Jones and Andew Ginzel working together since 1985 on many private and public commissioned projects. After reading more about their works, it seems they’re all over NYC, the United States and the world! Who knew?
Now what I also didn’t know was that at noon and midnight the hole erupts with a huge plume of steam that is accompanied by an explosion of sound like a noonday whistle or a public clock that marks the time. Cool! I guess I’d never been in the area at those exact times to hear it. Every component from the brick, the gold leaf, the massive piece of bedrock, the thin long cone, the hand sticking out…they all have meaning and a reference to time. You can read more about this particular project called the Metronome here. The burning bunghole is just a portion of the exhibit. So fun!
P.S. I didn’t come up with “burning bunghole.” Just happened to come across the term and thought how fitting! No pun intended. <smile!>
Ah! I’ve always wondered about that piece! I’ve never been there to see the smoke either, but now I want to try to.
I really enjoyed reading about the artists and can’t believe their other work is all over the city as well!
Such a different kind of public art, Robin. Thank you for sharing, I’ll go visit the links you placed 🙂
Thanks Anyes for stopping in!
Way cool shot frissy, but are you SURE you didn’t make up that term burning bunghole like I made up my new word, Ephodorians???
Ha ha!!
I have a feeling I’m gonna learn more about NYC through you and this blog than anywhere else on the internet, Robin. I quite like that. 🙂
Cool! Thank you!
Wow…I’ve looked up at that hundreds of times and always wondered about it! Thanks!
Me too! It finally got to me, ha ha!