Report From June 13:
We started with nature. Wheat fields, canals, islands. Manhattan used to have these things, but they are now hard to find. It was nice to imagine them coming back. As it was one of the first warm days, people thought about putting barbecues on the islands within the canals. Bike paths and bike parking followed (inspired by a real bike in the corner).
A dog park was built near some poles that had been peed on by some real dogs. Soon things got more imaginative, mostly focusing on describing the city as it currently was. A hipster art gallery was decried (why won’t they let guests use the bathroom?), and the price of rent was lowered (first to $500, then 5 cents). A discussion about different ways to organize housing stock maintenance emerged.
A lawyer who worked with imprisoned women walked by and asked for a legal aid society to be drawn to sue the NYPD. Others stopped by, immediately took chalk, and built better train networks, different types of affordable homes, and various gardens.
A surprising number of people drew animals. Every building was surrounded by dogs, horses, and even rats. After further discussion, it was made clear that even the rodents were loving creatures. We love having animals around us!
Dustin Hoffman walked by and stared intently. He tried to get some chalk, but his handlers stopped him. A barrier we must overcome in the future.
As the sun set, more passers-by added plants, animals, and poetry. Perhaps what New Yorkers want most is to have some urban nature. Some of the poetry was performed after it was chalked.
A neighbor who lived in one of the buildings stopped to give a history of the alleyway. This was incorporated.
Once the entire alleyway was filled up, people continued adding small details, even as we were leaving.
Re-imagine New York with us. Every week, we will decide together what’s missing, then bring it into chalky existence. Become Robert Moses’ worst nightmare! (Almost) Every Friday this summer, we are bringing the chalk. All we need from you is your understanding of the city, your doodling abilities, and a desire to use our state-of-the-art chalk protractor.
and… Here is our Manifesto!
and Here is the map, where you can upload your own Visual Assembly.
Have fun!
8 Extra Pl, New York, 10003, US