Molly Dilworth Wins Times Square Design Competition with Cool Water, Hot Island Installation

Molly Dilworth, an artist from Brooklyn, has won the reNEWable Times Square Design Competition with her project titled Cool Water, Hot Island. This installation, which will debut in June, stretches over seven blocks along Broadway from 42nd to 47th Streets and will be on display for 18 months. Its design features calming blue patterns that evoke rivers and topographical maps, linking to local geography and the historical Great Kill stream. These colors are chosen to reduce light glare for pedestrians while providing a striking contrast to the bright neon signs. For her winning design, Dilworth will receive $15,000, selected from 150 entries by a panel including members from the DOT and the Mayor’s Office. This project is part of a larger Times Square renovation that started in May 2009, which has successfully decreased pedestrian injuries by 35% and motorist injuries by 63% compared to the previous year. Dilworth earned her MFA from NYU in 2003 and has created large rooftop artworks, some visible from space, including one at Hendershot Gallery in Chelsea.