The Space Savers Project

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Michael Konrad
Camo Cones (Hiding in Plain Site)

Archival inkjet on Tyvek, traffic cones.

Camo Cones are a discreet alternative to the typical hi-viz fluorescent orange traffic cones. They mark off an area, divert traffic and save a parking space just like a normal traffic cone, but they do so while blending into their surroundings. Camo Cones attempt to slip under the radar and draw attention to how typical space savers blatantly disregard the law.

N 25th St, near Poplar St: The on-street exhibition was a day of successful subterfuge. All day long, drivers pulled up to the space, not noticing the Camo Cones until close, then drove away. They were left with no choice but to continue their search for parking elsewhere. Despite being located at the corner of a busy bus and trolley stop, the Camo Cones also went unnoticed by most pedestrians. They walked right on by, seemingly unaware of their existence.

This was posted 5 months ago. It has 5 notes. .

konradprojects reblogged this from thespacesaversproject and added:

Space Savers Project is now on view...Esther Klein Gallery.
thespacesaversproject posted this

The Space Savers Project is a citywide public arts project, inspired by the Philadelphia custom of “saving” on-street parking. Saving public parking spaces, while technically illegal, is widely practiced throughout the city. Items like recycling bins, upturned garbage cans, cinder blocks and broken furniture are traditionally used as space savers. While the objects effectively “save” spaces, they can be visually crude and imply threat/ possession. We called on artists to design and create alternatives to the objects traditionally used to save spaces. This is public art project as well as an environmental and social experiment. We wanted to re-imagine what space saving in the city can look like. We wondered: Can a change in the aesthetics change the message of space saving? Or is the act of space saving immutable? Perhaps by replacing traditional space savers with art, we can transform the practice of saving spaces and begin new community dialogues.

Is saving a parking space with a work of art different than saving one with a cinder block tethered to a street sign? The Space Savers Project may reveal an answer.

The creative goals for The Space Savers Project are:
To re-imagine a Philadelphia custom;
To transform environments and social customs;
To engage viewers outside of traditional gallery spaces.

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