Vessel (Closed)
New York, New York
Calculatingly alien and corporate-creepy, Vessel contains nearly 2,500 steps leading nowhere -- an Escher drawing made real. It's also a Temple of Endless Cardio: once you entered, there was no place to sit down except for the steps themselves, and good luck trying to do that in New York City. Vessel is a $150 million, 16-story artwork clad in fake mirrored bronze -- built for selfies -- and yet it's lost amid the surrounding skyscrapers. It would be far more impressive if Vessel were out in a field somewhere, and almost all New Yorkers would agree. They hate the thing.
When Vessel first opened to the public, buried in its terms and conditions -- which everyone who climbed Vessel had to sign -- was language giving its property developer ownership of all photos, videos, and audio recordings made by all visitors, forever (Public outcry forced the developer to back down a week later). The sculpture's dedication on March, 15, 2019, was suitably excessive, featuring appearances by a gospel choir; the Alvin Ailey Dancers; senator Chuck Schumer invoking Emma Lazarus's "give me your tired, your poor" poem; and Big Bird, who set off a confetti bomb.
Even on its good days, Vessel was an exposed, open-air attraction that was unpleasant when it was too hot or too cold. It was built with one elevator (for visitors with disabilities) and in late 2019 the federal government ordered it to build more (It didn't). Everyone else had to be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Vessel was closed in August 2021 after the fourth jumper committed suicide by jumping from it.
