New 'Hanging Garden' Might Be On Its Way To Brooklyn's Parks

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A new art installation is on its way to blooming in Brooklyn this summer.

The new "Hanging Garden," complete with edible plants and an immersive light and sound effects, will likely be set up in Fort Greene Park this summer, hopefully followed by other parks around the borough, according to Bed-Stuy artist Bryce Peterson.

"This unique project presents a visionary new concept for how ecology can enhance art, and its exhibition within NYC parks is an opportunity to create a living example of how natural systems can be integrated into urban architecture," Peterson writes.

The Hanging Gardens project has so far gotten the support of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy and is being reviewed by the city's Parks Department.

The 36-foot art installation includes a sculptural pavilion made out of plywood and a hanging botanical garden that visitors can sit under. It will be set up with light and sound elements that will respond to sensory cues from the soil, sun and water.

Light sculptures created by Peterson will also hang from nearby trees, according to the plans.

The garden itself will include vining flowers and vegetables that will grow through a drip irrigation system, according to the designs.

"Our vision is to present a localized, biodiverse garden system which opens peoples’ eyes to the possibilities of urban agriculture," the plans state.

Peterson has suggested Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Cadman Plaza Park as possible future sites for the exhibit.

So far, he's raised about half of the $16,000 needed to build the project through a grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council and a GoFundMe that aims to bring in $10,000 for its installation.

When it's completed, Peterson said the garden can provide a space for a variety of gatherings, including performances and education opportunities about engineering, ecology, urban farming or other topics.

Peterson's previous work includes light sculptures and other interactive structures. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and worked as the lead engineer at a New York City art and technology startup before leaving to pursue his own studio.

Find out more about the Hanging Garden here.