“Swale” at Concrete Plant Park, Yankee Pier, and Brooklyn Bridge Park
Mary Mattingly’s “Swale” docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park (photo by Jillian Steinahuer/Hyperallergic)
July 16–November 15
Part of why I can’t quit art is that artists continue to awe me by not only dreaming up, but also realizing, projects that sound impossible. In Mary Mattingly’s case this year, that project was “Swale,” a floating food forest that anyone could visit and pick from for free. The idea behind it was to consider food as a public good — something we don’t just buy and consume, but to which we deserve access. Behind the scenes, “Swale” was a huge undertaking, involving collaboration with some 50 people and groups, as well as a host of conversations with NYC officials; in person, it appeared modest. Mattingly was similarly humble and understated when we spoke about it — she made it sound simple, but it was radical. —Jillian Steinhauer
News about Swale 