Public Ad Campaign

Boarded Up

London-based graphic designer James Reynolds posts up on abandoned buildings and gets some love for it. It is nice to see such a simple and sincere concept for public art.

Look for Cincinnati’s version around town via Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s Future Blooms.

Findlay Doll

Saw this outside Madison’s.

California (streetcar) Dreaming

On such a winters day it is good to envision the warm vibrant city life of a distant coast.

I just happened upon this convertible streetcar among San Francisco’s fleet on a recent visit. Also, discovered that while it is true that they have a car painted to replicate a historic Cincinnati streetcar they don’t actually have an original.

Credit Crunches City Projects

Just came across an interesting article about how the economic crisis is impacting municipal bond markets and consequently city funded projects.

It is likely a short-term problem, but it is an interesting view of how the “Wall Street” crisis impacts “Main Street”.

Response to UK’s public drinking ban

In the UK a ban that would prohibit drinking in public spaces is being protested by throwing a party in a public park.

It is fascinating that it is illegal to drink in most public spaces in the states, but simply putting a bag over your drink or a publicly sanctioned event makes it alright.

These quotes from this Guardian article made me think about Sennett’s book The Uses of Disorder and the Fall of Public Man.

The longer these bans are imposed, the more each of us refuse to take responsibility for public space, and stop resolving our own issues, leading to a more antisocial society. This is not a campaign for drunkenness, it’s for the public right to engage in our own space.

The police should be concerned with people breaking the law, not with these so-called preventative measures. Cultural issues are not solved with blanket bans, but by political and social engagement for which we need a vibrant public sphere.

The Art of the Urban Farm Dance Party

Work Architecture Company, winners of the Young Architects Program, installed an urban farm inside the courtyard of P.S.1 in Queens for their weekly summer dance party. What a seemingly random amalgamation of things; dance party, art and urban agriculture. Leave it to P.S. 1.

(from NyTimes)