mark reigelman's oversized hand sculpture captures runoff water from overpass in texas

falling water’s upturned palm collects contaminated rainwater

Falling Water is a public sculpture by Mark Reigelman, located beneath a busy overpass along the pedestrian walkway of San Pedro Creek in San Antonio, Texas. Designed to address an infrastructural challenge, the sculpture catches, redirects, and filters contaminated runoff water that would otherwise cascade onto the path below, releasing it safely into the adjacent creek. Both functional and sculptural, Falling Water transforms necessity into a striking landmark at the intersection of urban infrastructure and nature.

Falling Water emerged from an unexpected challenge: an overpass drain was positioned directly above a busy pedestrian walkway. With neither element easily repositioned, a third entity was needed to bridge the gap between these overlapping worlds. Constructed from weathering steel, the artwork serves both a practical and sculptural function, transforming a utilitarian necessity into a striking landmark.

all images courtesy of Mark Reigelman

mark reigelman bridges infrastructure and sculpture

The artwork lives at the intersection of three distinct environmental layers. The lowest is the creek bed, lined with native flowers and grasses, where gently flowing water muffles the city’s noise to a soft gurgle of current and crickets. Above, the I-10 overpass hums with the relentless sounds of horns, engines, and the steady rush of tires on concrete. Between them, a shaded pedestrian walkway meanders along the creek’s edge, blending the overhead rhythms of traffic with the quiet rustle of brush and birdsong. From within this layered environment, a monumental steel hand rises from the surrounding grasses, its open palm catching contaminated runoff from the overpass. This universal gesture of offering and care speaks to the site’s deeper meaning: the convergence of humanity, nature, and infrastructure.

Crafted from weathering steel, Mark Reigelman’s sculpture references the road-worn vehicles above and gradually develops a patina that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape. The artist encircles the work with native plants as it is designed to evolve over time, as tendrils of greenery weave through its form and blur the boundary between the built and the organic. Rising more than 20 feet above the walkway, its fingertips beckon pedestrians from a distance. Up close, its intricate faceted surface and sheltering palm invite deeper reflection on the connection between water, place, and people.

The hand serves as a bridge between the built and natural worlds. Its upturned palm embodies a gesture of stewardship and care, reinforcing the sculpture’s role in protecting pedestrians, filtering runoff, and sustaining the ecosystem. Falling Water is a fusion of function and beauty, inviting viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between infrastructure and nature, and demonstrating how public art can transform and enrich the spaces we share.

Mark Reigelman unveils Falling Water

located beneath a busy overpass along the pedestrian walkway of San Pedro Creek in San Antonio, Texas

constructed from weathering steel, the artwork transforms a utilitarian necessity into a landmark

designed to address an infrastructural challenge, the sculpture catches, redirects, and filters contaminated water

rising more than 20 feet above the walkway

on-site welding by Demiurge

the steel gradually develops a patina that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape

installation preparations

project info:

name: Falling Water
designer: Mark Reigelman | @reigelman

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