Belanger models by hand in clay before casting into bronze and pigmented cement, and the softness of that origin survives the material: her objects look like they might still give under a thumb. In Distressed Assets, a flock of concrete birds picks pennies out of the City Hall Park fountain, a piece that landed the same year the US Mint retired the one-cent coin. She chose the title Heads or Tails for the suspended instant before a coin lands — a society on the edge of change, in the park outsid
What to expect
A walkable sculpture trail through a small, well-used civic park, with works slipped in among real gardens, real fountains and real monuments so that the joke of what is genuine and what is cast keeps resetting. The bronze Lady Justice figures are the scale anchors; the birds in the fountain reward a close look.
Good to know
- Free and outdoors in a public park — no ticket, no timed entry.
- City Hall Park sits between Broadway, Chambers and Park Row; the 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall and the R/W to City Hall are closest.
- It closes in mid-November, sooner than most outdoor installations — don't file it away indefinitely.
- It is a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian entrance if you're pairing it with a bridge crossing.
- Small enough to see properly in half an hour, and fully stroller and wheelchair accessible on paved paths.
- Look into the fountain — the flock of birds picking at coins is the piece most people walk past.
Planning Sep 11–13, 2026 in NYC?
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Common questions
How long is it up?
It opened June 2, 2026 and remains on view through November 15, 2026.
What should I look for?
Distressed Assets, a flock of concrete birds plucking pennies from the City Hall Park fountain; three potted fruit trees set beside living trees; and two large bronze figures reinterpreting Lady Justice.
Is there an admission charge?
No. It is free, outdoors and open to the public in City Hall Park.
