informal urban practices

The semi-permanence and transient nature of our free urban art gallery echoes the free experience of those participants who travel the worn bike track as part of their daily commute.
We simply took what was an existing informal urban practice as well as an important element of the local architectural fabric intrinsic to Brunswick and placed emphasis on those travelling the path to take notice and browse its wares.
Themes explored in this gallery included a context very familiar in Brunswick with the act of public gifts and a modification of the ordinary. Right then and there at that time, the space has been claimed for the purpose of entertaining passersby, for no other purpose other than to enhance the locale visual.
When creating this particular occupation, we re-cycled found objects located near the site in dis-used areas of public space, i.e. along the train tracks. We questioned worth, value and the idea of exchange within this fleeting interaction that the user has within the space as they pedal through the graffiti riddled corridors.
This raises the issue of possession and territory amongst the users and regular occupiers of the space. Is there perhaps an unspoken understanding or informal authority on what is allowed and accepted as art within the public arena and such a busy thoroughfare. In essence our occupation asked the question ‘why not?’ and informalized the presentation and subjectivity of art, all packaged up in a brief experience for those trafficking through the space to enjoy a brief moment of positive questioning whist on the daily commute.

DAN KERRIS, PHILIP PILLE, MICHELLE MCDONELL, CHRIS HERMAN

Reclaiming the streets is a social movement focusing on converting or returning public spaces into more people focused areas decreasing the amount of public spaces primarily allotted to car uses, and challenging ownership of public space.
The movement focuses on creating spaces for public usage such as, walking, cycling, relaxing, socializing, gardening space and a general increase in active street lifee, neighborhood services and travel options.

Benefits of such changes may include:

• Decreased automobile traffic with fewer automobile accidents and less pollution.
• Reduced summer temperatures due to less asphalt and more green spaces.
• Increased pedestrian traffic which also increases social and commercial opportunities.
• Increased gardening space for urban residents.
• Better support for co-housing and infirm residents, e.g. suburban eco-villages built around former streets.

Reclaiming the streets can also pertain to other activities occurring in public thoroughfares, such as street vending, footpath dining, reclamation of space for public seating, lighting, artistic projects, protests or festivals. These activities are accepted more often by the public, due to their temporary status or useful functionality.
“Reclaim the streets” is a striking phrase. It implies that some activities are now wrongfully excluded from the streets, and it implies that someone imposed and maintains the exclusion.

“Ultimately it is in the streets that power must be dissolved: for the streets where daily life is endured, suffered and eroded, and where power is confronted and fought, must be turned into the domain where daily life is enjoyed, created and nourished.”  http://rts.gn.apc.org/archive.html

Michelle McDonell S3016468

Reclaiming the streets video here