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urban spaces

Art

Astounding and Interactive Sidewalk Art Around the World

By Alison Nastasi on

Alternative sidewalk design explores eco-friendly, minimally invasive ways to pave pathways for pedestrians. Artists take the concept in another direction and create a temporary reprieve from the daily grind by offering interactive spaces for play and pondering. Sometimes they’re in the concrete jungle, and other times new spaces are created in unlikely locations, allowing pedestrians to explore the terrain. The sidewalk becomes the art itself. We recently told you about a giant trampoline sidewalk, and it inspired us to search for other impressive and imaginative “sidewalk” art. See what happens when quiet footpaths, bridge walkways, city streets, and other places people tread are made over. … Read More

Photography

Surprisingly Beautiful Photographs from the Roofs of Parking Garages

By Emily Temple on

Upstate New York-based photographer Wilson Cummer captures an urban scene that others might overlook — the world from the vantage of a parking garage. In the project’s statement, he writes, “Some urban planners have argued that parking garages destroy the architectural assets of urban cores… but I have found unexpected visual joy in parking garages. They offer an urban version of the hikes and sublime views that lead me to the Adirondack mountains… The roofs offer unusual views of nearby buildings and far-off valleys and hills. The tops of garages are places of surprising beauty and calm.” Indeed. Click through to see some of our favorites from Cummer’s photo series, and then be sure to head over to his website for even more of his work. … Read More

Dance/Opera

"Bodies in Urban Spaces" Takes Over the Financial District

By Sam Schlinkert on

Yesterday morning choreographer Willi Dorner and a crew of performers connected to the French Institute Alliance Française’s Crossing the Line Festival took to the streets of New York City’s Financial District to put on “Bodies in Urban Spaces.” According to ARTINFO, a crowd of about 100 onlookers gathered around dawn to chase performers across the urban landscape. Approximately 20 dancers dressed in bright neon colors proceeded to wedge themselves into different spaces — between awnings, in phone booths, up against columns — for 50 minutes of carefully-orchestrated, totally bizarre movement.

“Bodies” has been put on in many cities around the world, including Austin, Paris, and Philadelphia. If you’re in New York, you can catch an encore performance tonight at 5:46 pm, just in time for rush hour. Click through for a photo preview. … Read More