Curative Public Narrative #2

By: Kwang Min Ko

Narrative #1: Self

           

            The Highline is intersection between the busy city and Hudson River. It is brilliant idea using the old railways and transforming in to park for families and friends to escape from busy city environment. The upper level park Highline gives refreshing spaces with great view of New York City. The secret space in NYC for people who are tired of chaotic city environment, the places will be quiet and relaxed. 

Narrative #2: Highline and its Environment

            The environment of Highline is isolated from the busy New York City; it is located on top of 

the city, on old railways. This creates the distance for people in the park for them to think they are 

finally far away from all the problems and loud noises of the city. For once people, who wants their 

own relaxing space and escape from all the problems for brief time, Highline Park is highly 

recommended to visit. The most interesting design of the Highline is the design of the chairs it 

resembles the subway rail. The chairs and desks are well blend with the rail that is still left in the 

park. The environment creates nostalgia feeling of arriving in subway. 

Curative Public Narrative #1

By: Kwang Min Ko

Public Art Survey: Midtown Manhattan

Narrative #1: Madison Square Park

            The Madison Square Park located on the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23^rd Street in New York City. The Madison Square Park is surrounded by famous buildings such as Flatiron Building, Met Life Tower and etc., which make the park popular touring sites. Therefore the outside of the park is filled with people, however inside of the park isolates the chaotic city environment and offers people place to enjoy their meals. There are many people enjoying their lunch with their friends on the benches in the park. It provides relaxing place for people, moreover the “landscape sculpture, ‘Fata Morgana’”, by Teresita Fernandez is installed inside the park. The sculpture creates “tunnel” shape inside the park; it completely isolates the busy city for people anyone who needed convenient space to enjoy time with their friends.

Narrative #2: Bryant Park

            Bryant Park located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40^th and 42^nd street. There is main branch of the New York Public Library inside the park; interestingly there are lines of trees that completely separate the park area. High buildings surround the park; it gives an image of dome with hole in top. There are trees along the park blocking the view of busy city traffic. The center of the park there is an area called, “The Great Lawn”, the comfortable grass area with chairs and desks. There are few people sitting on the chair and chatting and few lying on the grass and enjoying the sun or even some sleeping. The outside of the park might be chaos and stressful but through the staircase inside the park is fast escape ticket from the city for the people who need space to relax. I found it ironic the Bryant Park is in the city but due to its isolated design environment, it gives feeling of separate space that does not feel like one is in New York.

Narrative #3: Central Park

         The biggest manmade park in New York City, Central Park is a environment for people who are tired of city. The park has lakes, forests, zoo, museum, soccer field, and all kinds of recreational places for people to spend times with family and friends. New York City, one of the most urban areas in the world, central park is man made rural area for people to escape from the city. There are unlimited activities that can be done in the park, and the beautiful scenery near the lake and forests gives energy to the people who are tired out.

October 6th responses

Something so ubiquitous can still remain so alluring as is the case with the LOVE sculpture's, where its so tempting to stop and take a photo in Manhattan with the sculpture as a character and the city as a back drop. This piece is such an inviting icon because it promotes interactivity with a tremendously low barrier or understanding. Its message is simple and offers very little restrictions, but instead invites you to pose through the sculptures holes and spaces. A truly remarkable feat of having such playfulness while remaining iconic.

In regards to the narratives that occur within my own walk in my neighborhoods, I gathered two images that bad a rich enough narrative to speak to.

The first is right outside my apartment in Chinatown, where a local business owner has place an ad for space for rent. As with most urbanized spaces, the sign is a victim of vandalism and has a fair amount of markings on it. Yet, the narrative I find is that there is a clash of cultures occurring in the language being advertised and the markings being drawn. Where all the words or symbols are in English, and seem to directly cover up the Chinese writings of the signs.

The second piece is a traffic light control box with an official government engraving, but someone has placed an uber promotion on the side of the box. The irony being that uber seems to be at war with every city it steps into, and the small taping of an ad just seems indicative of their strategy to be in every city possible. They find new ways to enter new markets and do it so suddenly and quickly.

Dominique DeVito
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1. the peace piece 

-stating that most of war casualties are women with children

-extremely powerful visuals

-responding to 2003 iraq invasion

2) coney island

-talking about call for artists in coney island

-gave coney a face lift

-commissioned up and coming and established artists for advertising 

-also started dreamland artists clubhouse 

-proposing new ways to rebuild cities 

Dominique DeVito

Narrative log: