Reflections

At the center of the photo is the Ecliptic, a 13,000 square foot oval amphitheater designed by Maya Lin, more famous for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall). This is part of Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, and the 3 ½ acre site also contains a small reflecting pool and another pool that emits water vapor. The amphitheater is used for many public events.

In the winter, the theater is converted into a skating rink. Fiber optic lighting installed beneath reflects the winter stars as they were in 2001 when the park was designed. Lin wanted to represent the three stages of water in the park: liquid, vapor, and solid. This morning we had a brief but heavy rain shower, which explains why there is a bit more of the 'liquid' than usual.

This may be more information than you wanted to know but there you have it all the same :)

One Reflected Building previously blipped