Public art as public amenity

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Caley J. Coney, "Bad Day," Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk. via Public Art Saint Paul

Caley J. Coney, "Bad Day," Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk. via Public Art Saint Paul

via Public Art Saint Paul

Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk is a project created by Saint Paul’s Public Artist in Residence Marcus Young and friends, Saint Paul Public Works, and Public Art Saint Paul with contributions from Saint Paul poets, which began in 2008. Every year residents can submit poems to be selected for imprinting in the new and newly repaired sidewalks of the city. The deadline for submissions is March 28, 2010. Guidelines here.

As “just” participatory, civic art Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk is an exemplary project, both whimsical and impactful. As Young writes in his brief introduction,

“Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk is inspired by the universal, childish desire to draw a finger through tempting wet cement. The project also has higher-minded aspiration. Our public realm, crowded with commercial and regulatory text, could use more poetry. On our modest sidewalks, we hope to create delightful moments of open-air reading, and make public and common the beauty in our hearts as expressed by our poets. Beautiful poetry can be as present and plain as sidewalk, as grass and sky.”

What is particularly interesting – even revolutionary – about Everyday Poems, I think, is the way the program is integrated into the everyday business of the city of Saint Paul. Young is in an almost unique situation in the United States. He is not just an outsider artist-in-residence, he is a “city artist,” and as such he often sits alongside the engineers, public safety, marketing and other public works staff in evaluating new projects.  Like the renowned Mierle Laderman Ukeles, who has been artist in residence (unsalaried) at the New York City Department of Sanitation since 1977, Young is part of a team and Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk is as much a public amenity as the sidewalks themselves.

Add your voice to your city.

Ryan Ross, "Steal It," Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk.

Ryan Ross, "Steal It," Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk.

Photographer-in-Residence: Environmental Services Dept.

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The City of San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Environmental Services Department (ESD) are seeking a “photographer-in-residence” to document the people, places and operations involved in the daily workings of the Environmental Services Department Storm Water, Water Pollution Control and Water Recycling Services.  The photographer-in-residence will spend approximately 20 hours per week documenting the Department’s work over a six month period and will be provided with a work station at the Water Pollution Control Plant, which will act as home base for this project.  At the end of the residency period, the photographer will create a proposal for presenting the photographs (e.g. as a suite of framed photographs, web pages, a publication, etc.) and a separate production contract will be negotiated.

More information: http://www.sanjoseculture.org/?pid=4500
Contact Information: Patricia Walsh, Public Art Program Coordinator, City of San Jose at patricia.walsh@sanjoseca.gov or 408.277.5144 extension 18.

Your poetry written in stone

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The 2009 Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk poetry contest is now open! Contest guidelines here. According to the Strib online:

“Following the success of last year’s inaugural ‘Everyday Poems for City Sidewalks’ project, the city and Public Art St. Paul once again are seeking poetry submissions from residents.

“People turned in more than 2,000 poems last year, and 20 winners were chosen. Their verses are sprinkled throughout the city’s nearly 1,000 miles of sidewalks.

“‘Our sidewalk poetry effort brings art to the outdoors where it can surprise, inspire, and make us laugh, smile, and think,’ said Mayor Chris Coleman.”

Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk is a project initiated by Marcus Young and friends, Saint Paul Public Works, and Public Art Saint Paul with Contributions from thirty-four Saint Paul Poets. Young is the City of Saint Paul Artist-in-Residence or “city artist.” Read his introduction to the project and the poems selected last year here.