Art gives public space back to people in 16 US cities

When Brad Carney sketched out the plan for a 15,000-square-foot mural in downtown Reno, Nevada, he delved into design elements that harkened back to the area's railroad heritage and brought colors from nearby buildings and landscapes into the painting, including the flower that represents the state and the famous Reno Arch. “I wanted to make it unique, so that this mural couldn’t exist anywhere else ,” said Carney, a Philadelphia-based artist known for his playful, large-scale and colorful public works. "When I design murals," he added, "I like to become a vehicle for a community and a neighborhood , and not bring too much of myself into it until I figure out what they're looking for. The point of public art, to me, is the process." to involve the community ." Local residents weighed in with ideas and feedback . Volunteers from nearby art schools and organizations will be on site in early June to help draw the sketch, and 300 local volunteers have signed up to help paint during the week-long installation. Reno is one of 16 small and mid-sized cities across the United States where local artists and residents are taking to the streets – from crosswalks to underpasses – to add beautiful color to the pavement as part of the "Art Initiative" project. on the Asphalt" by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“We want to help cities do wonderful things in their public realm,” said Kate D. Levin , who oversees arts programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies and was formerly commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. “Why not use projects like this to really allow people to engage and create a sense that public space belongs to everyone ?" The initiative's goals are to support local artists, community groups, businesses, and government in collaborative infrastructure projects to make streets safer; activate public space; and promote community engagement, "because the urban landscape is not theoretical, it permeates people's lives ." Three cities began or completed installations by the end of 2020: Kansas City, Missouri; Saginaw, Michigan; and Norfolk, Virginia. The remaining 13 are expected to complete their projects this year. As of mid-May, the cities had transformed 26,000 square feet of urban art landscape and involved more than 1,500 residents and 72 artists in the design and installation process. Source: NY Times