powered by:
valneva canada inc.
workshop explores turning windsor's roads, bridges into public art
billions of dollars of roads, bridges and other hard in...
aug 14 2024
2 minute read
one way of 'activating the commons' and turning urban infrastructure into urban public art — wiff alley in downtown windsor is shown on nov. 12, 2021.
dan janisse
/
windsor star
billions of dollars of roads, bridges and other hard infrastructure surround windsor’s urban dwellers — why not add to some of that a more artful purpose?
‘activating the commons: community engagement through public art’ is the title of a public discussion in downtown windsor on thursday that explores “ways public infrastructure can be activated through art and community engagement.”
fittingly, it takes place aug. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in an open urban green space dotted with public art — on the lawn outside art windsor-essex, 401 riverside dr. w.
ilana altman, a leader of the bentway in toronto, will be a featured speaker. located beneath what many urbanists consider a scar in toronto’s city landscape, the bentway is a repurposed 1.75-km stretch of multi-use trail that boasts pedestrian and cycling paths and hosts activities as varied as farmers’ markets, gardens, public art and live performances, ice skating and festivals.
“the bentway is a guide to what is possible. the concrete jungle is not inevitable,” said melinda munro of munro strategic partnership, which is co-sponsoring this week’s event with parallel 42 systems.
turning a parking garage into public art — phase one of art alley, located north of maiden lane, between pelissier street and ouellette avenue, is unveiled during a press event on may 27, 2022.
dax melmer
/
windsor star
panelists include windsor ward 3 coun. renaldo agostino, a promoter and community advocate who represents the downtown on city council; lauren hedges, managing director of windsor hackforge; art windsor-essex executive director jennifer matotek; architect and urban planner dorian moore; and pat papadeas, st. clair college’s director of academic operations and a windsor international film fest director.
advertisement
advertisement
munro suggests some possibilities of “activating” what’s already there in the public space, or commons: “can a bridge be a work of art? can an alley be an art gallery or a theatre?”
participation in this week’s ‘activating the commons’ event comes at a cost: $33.28, with registration through the eventbrite online ticketing platform.
ticket includes a pre-event downtown walking tour starting at 4 p.m. at gateway park (university avenue west east of cameron avenue); panel at 5:30 p.m.; catering by zule eats; and entry to art windsor-essex’s august night event (until 9 p.m.).
it’s the fourth in an annual series, with support from the downtown windsor bia and the university of windsor’s law centre for cities.
share story
