Falling Water is a public artwork located beneath a busy overpass along the pedestrian walkway of San Pedro Creek in San Antonio, TX. Designed to address an infrastructural challenge, the sculpture intercepts, redirects, and filters 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 was born from an infrastructural fluke an overpass drain positioned directly above a busy pedestrian walkway. With neither element easily repositioned, a third entity, borne of steel, was needed to link these overlapping worlds. It had to serve both a practical and sculptural function, transforming a utilitarian necessity into a striking landmark within downtown San Antonio’s urban oasis, the San Pedro Creek.

The artwork lives at the intersection of three distinct environmental layers. The lowest the creek bed is lined with native flowers and grasses, its gently flowing water muffling the city’s noise to a soft gurgle of current and crickets. Above, the I-10 overpass hums with horns, downshifting engines, and the rhythmic rush of tires on concrete. Between them, a shaded pedestrian walkway meanders along the creek’s edge, where the soundscape blends the rumble of traffic with the crackling of brush, layering industry and nature into a living composition.

From within this dynamic environment, a monumental steel hand emerges from the surrounding grasses, its open palm capturing 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, the sculpture nods to the road-worn vehicles above, while gradually developing a patina that harmonizes with the natural landscape. Encircled by native plants, the sculpture is designed to evolve, as tendrils of greenery weave through its form, blurring the boundary between the built and organic worlds. Rising more than 20 feet above the walkway, its fingertips beckon pedestrians from afar, while up close, its faceted surface and sheltering palm invite deeper reflection on the connection between water, place, and people.

The hand an enduring symbol of humanity and nature serves as a bridge between the built and organic worlds, where infrastructure meets environment. Its upturned palm embodies a gesture of offering, care, and stewardship, reinforcing the sculpture’s functional role in protecting pedestrians, filtering runoff, and sustaining the ecosystem.

Falling Water is a fusion of function and beauty, transforming necessity into a contemplative experience. The work invites viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between infrastructure and nature, illustrating how public art can shape and enrich the spaces we share.