Fi2W on the Radio: A Sisyphean Art Installation Comes To A Natural End

Uliks Gryka's Sisyphus Stones

Uliks Gryka’s Sisyphus Stones under along the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge. Photo: Rosalind Tordesillas

To be in New York City is to be surrounded by art — from world-famous museums to vivid street art. But even in this art-rich environment, the Sisyphus Stones are unique.

Arranged along more than 100 yards of Hudson River shoreline near the George Washington bridge, these three-piece stone statues were named for the Greek king Sisyphus who was doomed by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity.

The Sisyphus Stones were created by Uliks Gryka, an immigrant from Albania. After building and re-building the statues that were constantly being knocked down, Gryka decided on the one year anniversary of the project to stop and let nature take over.

Feet in 2 World’s podcast editor and former fellow Rosalind Tordesillas recently produced a story for PRI’s The World about the stones, what they represent to their creator and the people who have visited them.

Read More on PRI’s The World

Fi2W is supported by the David and Katherine Moore Family Foundation, the Ralph E. Odgen Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The J.M. Kaplan Fund, an anonymous donor and readers like you.

AboutRosalind Tordesillas
Rosalind Tordesillas trained and worked as a social scientist and now explores people's experiences through audio storytelling. She produces and edits podcasts on immigrant life for Feet in 2 Worlds. She also contributes to the Community Oral History Project at the New York Public Library. She has graduate degrees from the New School and NYU in Social Psychology.