Streetfilms shows DIY Streets in London
Streetfilms production on Sustrans Do-It-Yourself Approach to Safer Streets based on improvements made to Clapton Terrace in London.
London’s Do-It-Yourself Approach to Safer Streets from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Narcelio Grud Sculpts Sound
PUBLIC SCULPTURE SOUND | NARCELIO GRUD from Yeah on Vimeo.
Here’s a pretty awesome sound installation from Narcelio Grud. I am really struck by how everyone on the street is so willing to engage with the instruments. It can be difficult for people to break out of the confines of their urban blase (accent unavailable). Would love to see something like this stretched out over blocks and blocks so that the sound builds and changes even more as you move through the city.
Gowanus Design Competition
This design competition for the Gowanus Canal/Gowanus neighborhood, is interesting for several reasons.
Gowanus is a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood that is largely industrial in character. It’s gentrification presents many challenges, some of which are:
- Preserving/Adding affordable housing
- Taking of advantage of available buying power
- Preserving local culture
The Gowanus neighborhood itself is problematic for several reasons, some of which are:
- The Canal was recently designated a Superfund site
- The industrial nature of the neighborhood can be depressing
- The Gowanus Expressway is one of the biggest transportation planning mistakes in the the history of Robert Moses, and therefore in the history of New York. The Expressway creates vast tracks of dead space and is a health hazard, along with the Canal
If you can address these issues in your proposal, then we will gladly post it here and root for you.
Tell your friends about the Laundromat Project
The Laundromat Project from The Quotidian on Vimeo.
This is an exciting and noble project. It’s what the progressive planning organization, PPS.org, calls Placemaking. It’s using local talent, to take a very traditional but boring “third place,” and turn it into a “sticky” place, where people want to stay, and can enjoy. Think about it: how much better would our communities be if laundromats where hot spots for the arts and for having fun, communicating with your neighborhoods in a constructive way, and were productive beyond cleaning your socks?
Group Listening Alone Project Description Posted
Finally posted a project description/musing on the Grand Central listening experiment! Take a look at it here.
We are looking to plan another Group Listening Alone meeting for the spring. Let us know if you have any ideas about places and pieces to pair up.
DIY Newspaper Giftbag
A little late from for the holidays, but worth of sharing nonetheless.
Newspaper Gift Bag DIY from Repurposed Goods!
Yes, there are tons of Newspaper Gift Bag DIY’s out there but is there one as cool and concise as this??!? A bag that I picked up in Mumbai (FabIndia) encouraged me to make this Newspaper Gift Bag DIY. Trying to fit it onto a single page was a challenge that is still being worked on but I think it can be followed decently. Never-the-less, here it is…enjoy!
“Talibanksy” artists in Afghanistan
watch?v=A0TrdGZlVQ0&feature=player_embedded
Signs of life in Kabul, Afghanistan as “Talibansky” artists create thoughtful pieces of street art throughout the city.
It’s truly amazing how youthful expression can never be suppressed. While many adults in Kabul have resorted (in some cases they have little other choice) to corruption or subsistence living, the youth are using their energy to point out the hypocrisy of the war and the state’s failed policies. One of the virtues of the youth is that they don’t know what they’re doing is impossible - that’s on full display in this video.
Reclaiming public space. « Daily Design Idea
DoTank:Brooklyn’s BQE BYO is profiled on Daily Design Idea’s recent coverage of ‘Reclaiming Public Space’. Happy to be listed next to Aram Bartholl’s Dead Drops project!
Group Listening Alone
For those interested in spaces and sounds, we’ll be holding a listening experiment in the Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal Friday, December 10th, at 7pm. A group of us will listen to Steve Reich’s seminal piece Music for 18 Musicians at the same time on our ipods, phones, whatevers while wandering/observing/experiencing this iconic space. The experience looks to examine parallels in micro and macro aspects of the piece and the place. Also, through simultaneously listening to the same piece in our own earbud worlds, we will be exploring tensions surrounding the creation of a personal identity in a social space.
The only thing you have to do is get ahold of an mp3 of Music for 18 Musicians (email us if you are interested and maybe we can figure something out). The piece is 57 minutes long so be prepared!
We will meet at the info kiosk in the center of the hall at 7.
