Photo 247785057 © Alexandre Tziripouloff | Dreamstime.com
New York City is making the climb to creatively transform its urban landscape. The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) has launched the City Canvas program, an initiative inviting artists to turn the city’s nearly 400 miles of sidewalk sheds and construction fences into vibrant canvases of artistic expression. This program is a part of Mayor Eric Adams’ broader Get Sheds Down plan, aimed at addressing the abundance of scaffolding that often mars the metropolis’s aesthetic.
Artists are being called upon to apply their talents to these ubiquitous urban structures, often viewed as eyesores. The DCLA is set to select at least 10 artists, each of whom will receive a US$1,000 stipend to develop their designs. These designs will then be displayed on building sites across the city, using materials like vinyl or debris netting, to breathe new life into the otherwise mundane scaffolding and construction fencing.
This initiative follows the success of a pilot version of the program, which ran from 2019 through the past year, bringing 124 artworks to 47 construction sites across the city.
The City Canvas program is structured into three phases. Initially, artists submit samples of their past work for review by a committee comprising local arts professionals and community stakeholders. Next, a minimum of 10 artists will be chosen to advance to the second phase, where they will collaborate with the city to refine and finalize their designs. During this round, the artists receive their stipends.
The third and final phase spans at least two years, during which pre-approved artwork is made available online for property owners and artists to collaborate on specific sites. This step is crucial as it involves the actual installation of the artworks, transforming the landscape and enhancing the visual appeal of construction sites.
Artworks must be scalable for different proportions and colors and adhere to city guidelines, which prohibit obscenity, hate speech, sexual content, advertisements, or depiction of illegal activity. The goal is to improve the pedestrian experience by turning construction structures into beautiful works of art, while also promoting local artists and cultural institutions.
Property owners are responsible for the cost of displaying the artworks, with suggested payments ranging from US$4,000 to US$7,000, depending on the project’s scope. They can choose from pre-approved designs or commission site-specific artworks directly from artists, subject to DCLA approval.
Artists interested in participating have until January 31 to apply for the City Canvas program.
“The days of the dreary hunter green pipe-and-scaffold sidewalk shed are numbered,” remarks Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. “From new mesh parapet requirements to more public artwork under the City Canvas program, as well as the upcoming holistic shed redesigns coming in 2024, we are truly transforming the look and feel of our city streetscapes. Sidewalk sheds and construction fences serve an important public safety purpose, but that doesn’t mean we have to settle for unattractive designs.”
This creative approach to urban beautification not only turns functional city structures into platforms for artistic expression but also enriches the pedestrian experience. The city never sleeps, even in art.
[via Hyperallergic and NYC.gov, cover photo 247785057 © Alexandre Tziripouloff | Dreamstime.com]
by rrollins
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