1950 - NYC, Moondog (Martin Elkort) by straatis on Flickr.
Moondog was the pseudonym of Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916–September 8, 1999), a blind American composer, musician, cosmologist, poet, and inventor of several musical instruments. Although these achievements would have been considered extraordinary for any blind person, Moondog further removed himself from society through his decision to make his home on the streets of New York for approximately twenty of the thirty years he spent in the city.
“”The viewer becomes aware of himself and of his movement through the plaza. As he moves, the sculpture changes. Contraction and expansion of the sculpture result from the viewer’s movement. Step by step the perception not only of the sculpture but of the entire environment changes.”
Tilted Arc
Richard Serra
Federal Plaza, New York City (1981-1989)
(photo © 1985 David Aschkenas)
I have always conceived of my architectural interventions within the context of social function. They are neither simple decorations nor mere occasions for creating monumental works. They are acts of social engagement, and for that reason I always try to participate in these kinds of projects from the moment of their conception, so that my work can be a true act of integration. That is the only way I can be sure that the work will fulfill more than just an aesthetic function.
Carlos Cruz-Diez
in Conversation with Ariel Jiménez, p.106-107
This most modern art discipline — Social Sculpture/Social Architecture — will only reach fruition when every living person becomes a creator, a sculptor, or architect of the social organism.
Only then would the insistence on participation of the action art of FLUXUS and Happening be fulfilled; only then would democracy be fully realized. Only a conception of art revolutionized to this degree can turn into a politically productive force, coursing through each person, and shaping history.
I Am Searching For Field Character, 1977
Joseph Beuys
Cascoland is an international network of artists, architects, designers and performers sharing a fascination for interdisciplinary interventions in public space, promoting mobilization, participation and networking through international artistic exchange and collaboration.
All Cascoland projects are initiated and produced by Fiona de Bell and Roel Schoenmakers.
I have proved by actual trial that a letter, that takes an hour to write,
takes only about 3 minutes to read…
Lewis Carroll
As Lewis Carroll used to say
…city form is neutral until it is impressed with specific cultural intent
p.11, The City Shaped
Spiro Kostof
