A By-the-Public, For-the-Public Art Project Takes Shape Under the FDR

The Department of Transportation’s newest pet project has been the DOT Art Initiative, which partners with artists and community organizations to bring some color into this concrete jungle. You might have caught last month’s “asphalt activation” at a Citi Bike docking station in Williamsburg. Now, the DOT has partnered up with New York State Senator Daniel Squadron and the non-profit Hester Street Collaborative to set up a temporary public art installation on the South Street median, starting at Rutgers Street.
The installation, envisioned by artists Samuel Holleran and Chat Travieso, will consist of wooden sculptures designed by community members and created by the artists. Dylan House, the community design director at Hester Street Collaborative, explained that Holleran and Travieso have been hosting “engagement sessions” where they set up a table in front of different buildings, at street intersections, and at after-school programs to encourage people to participate in the design of the sculptures.
“The artists are basically asking community members about their interpretation of what community means,” House explained. “The sculptures will be each person’s interpretation of their meaning of community.” 
House said that the project was part of a continuing effort to beautify the area around Pier 42 and make it safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. Decorating the South Street median with an art project that was directly created by locals was a way to bring some color and joy to the otherwise rather drab underpass, he added.
The installation is scheduled to be up sometime in mid-August, and will be on display for about 11 months.