Ribbons

Ribbons is a site-specific artwork designed by Cliff Garten for the courtyard of the historic Federal Building at 50 United Nations Plaza.  Garten’s design preserves the main north-south axis that connects the courtyard’s two entrances, yet transforms the classical symmetry of architect Arthur Brown, Jr.’s 1932 design by inserting a sculptural environment composed of strikingly contemporary paving, seating, fountains and plantings.

The courtyard’s interwoven paving plan defines the various pathways and is the horizontal basis for the sculptural seating, which rises from the ground plane, creating the impression that the flat paving has been lifted and twisted to create three-dimensional forms.  A minimal granite fountain anchors each end of the courtyard, completing an element of the architect’s original intention that was never executed.  Garten designed this sculptural environment to achieve maximum effect with minimum economy by using recycled and cast concrete in duplication and series.  The neatly planted grove of Himalayan birch provides a vertical counterpoint to the horizontal orientation of the sculpture.  The trees’ white bark also echoes the stone and brick walls of the surrounding architecture.