The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States, contaminated by decades of industrial waste and runoff. Despite its severe pollution, photographer Steven Hirsch has captured striking images that reveal an abstract and unexpected beauty within the polluted water. The canal has been granted Superfund status by the federal government, marking it for an eventual cleanup. Hirsch’s work is compiled in the photobook “Gowanus Waters,” published by powerHouse Books on March 1. Read Article

Steven Hirsch’s photographic series “Gowanus Waters,” published by Powerhouse Books, captures the toxic surface of Brooklyn’s heavily polluted Gowanus Canal. His close-up images transform industrial runoff and pollution, accumulated over 150 years, into mesmerizing psychedelic abstractions with vivid purples, greens, blues, and rainbow hues. Although the canal is a designated EPA Superfund Site undergoing cleanup, the photographs offer a striking visual record of the waterway’s polluted past and present, raising awareness about its environmental condition amid ongoing neighborhood development. Read Article

Steven Hirsch’s photo series “Gowanus: Off the Water’s Surface” transforms the polluted Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn into striking images that resemble impressionist paintings or acid trip visuals. The canal, declared a superfund site in 2010 due to toxic sludge, shows vibrant colors and textures caused by light reflecting off toxic accumulation. Hirsch captured these surreal scenes despite challenging conditions, including wearing a gas mask to photograph highly polluted areas. The exhibit is currently showcased at the Lilac Gallery in Flatiron, inviting viewers to reexamine Brooklyn’s environmental landscape. Read Article