Metronome (public artwork)
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Metronome is a large public art installation located along the south end of Union Square in New York City. The work was commissioned by the The Related Companies, developers of One Union Square South. The $3 million provided by the developer makes it one of the largest private commissions of public art.
The artwork was created by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel and consists of several sections, including a round circular void from which puffs of white steam are released throughout the day. In addition, there are seemingly meaningless numbers which actually represent the time: if the clock reads 0704369X1235516 it means that it is 7:04 A.M and 36.9 seconds. (7 hours and 4 minutes since midnight) and that there are 16 hours, 55 minutes and 23.1 seconds remaining until midnight. The middle digit, representing hundreths of a second, is a blur and cannot be read.
The artists state that "Metronome is an investigation into the nature of time" and is meant to evoke the dynamic nature of the city. "The elements suggest the instant and infinity, astronomical sequence, geological epoch and ephemerality."
Installation of the Metronome began in February of 1999, until its dedication in October 26, 1999. For a few months in 2005, the clock on Metronome did not give the time of day, but instead counted down the time until the International Olympic Committee was to announce the host city of the 2012 Summer Olympics.[1]
