Posted in Cities, New York State, tagged graffiti, public art, street art on August 4, 2012| 2 Comments »
Rochester graffiti captured by Nick Swann
Landscape architecture students, among others, seem to have a passion for graffiti/street art. In what I think is the only interesting story I’ve seen on “network news” this year, CNN’s report on street art as public art includes a shout out to Rochester. Not much depth, but some good photos from around the world.
Posted in Cities, Landscape Urbanism, tagged cities, Near West Side Initiative, public art, revitalization, Rust Belt, Syracuse, Syracuse University, tactical urbanism, urban design on February 2, 2012| 1 Comment »
Call it what you will – tactical urbanism, DIY urbanism, etc. – many urban planners and designers are thinking creatively about how improvements to the city can be made in an era of tight budgets. The video below showcases a project in Syracuse that could be considered in this vein. The project, called A Love Letter to Syracuse, is a public art project sited in a strategically important location in the city. My personal experience of the project matches the artists’ and community organizers’ intentions, I think. It makes me happy to pass through this area and generally feel good about the city. Residents of aging cities need more of this! It is also a good example of a public-private partnership between the private university, SU, and the local government.
The video was posted on YouTube a little over a year ago, but it deserves another look and wider circulation. I have to say, I’m growing more and more interested in the use of paint as an inexpensive tool for neighborhood improvement.
Praxis in Landscape Architecture 