A new park in Toronto includes a water treatment tower that, with artist Jill Anholt's help, creates a beautiful water feature that some say will be a catalyst for future development in the area.
Kerry Freek reports that the treatment facility "cleans collected storm and lake water with ultraviolet (UV) light. The treated water is then sent underground to the north side of the park where it is released through three nine-metre-high art sculpture towers."
Artist Jill Anholt explains the project on her website:
"Nine meter tall art elements display and celebrate collected and purified community storm water , lifting it from the ground to the sky where it falls as a textured veil of water into a channel that returns it to Lake Ontario. As people meander over bridges between the elements, integrated motion sensors trigger shifting light patterns in the water curtains, emphasizing the connection between local actions and distant effects."
Thanks to Blake Laven
Read the full story: Light Shower Towers: Toronto's new park attempts to bring water back into the public realm
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