The River That Flows Both Ways 2009

Spencer Finch created this piece, titled 'The River That Flows Both Ways', for the High Line in New York City. Finch sampled colors from the Hudson River at different times of day and then translated these into panes of colored glass. Think about the history of the High Line itself: Originally built in the 1930s to lift freight trains above the streets of Manhattan, it has been repurposed as a public park. Finch's intervention extends the cultural life of this space, transforming the residue of industrial labor into a site of aesthetic experience. His work is not just about representing the river, but about evoking the feelings and memories associated with it. The history of New York is entwined with the Hudson River. It has served as a vital transportation route, a source of commerce, and a boundary between communities. Finch invites us to consider our relationship with the environment and the ways in which our perceptions are shaped by history, memory, and place.