SerpApi.Org
Herald Square isn't exactly a place where people linger. Starting this week, that might change.
Beginning on Wednesday, July 22, the 34th Street Partnership is bringing Impulse to Herald Square, a free interactive public art installation featuring eight giant seesaws that light up and create music as people ride them. The installation, which will be set up on Broadway between 35th and 36th Streets, turns a childhood playground staple into a colorful, collaborative experience at one of Manhattan's busiest intersections.
Created by Montreal design firms Lateral Office and CS Design and presented in collaboration with Quartier des Spectacles Partnership International, Impulse responds to every movement. As riders go up and down, the seesaws trigger shifting colors and musical notes, creating an ever-changing light-and-sound performance that varies depending on who's playing. The result is a combo art installation and musical instrument—plus an excuse to embrace your inner 8-year-old.
Impulse has delighted crowds in cities around the world over the past decade, turning plazas and public squares into temporary playgrounds where strangers inevitably end up working together to keep the seesaws moving. In New York, where public art often asks visitors to look but not touch, this installation turns that idea on its head: the artwork doesn't really come alive until people climb aboard.
Impulse will be open daily from 9am to 9pm through August 21, with rides available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets or reservations are required—just show up and wait your turn.
