Art Creates Community

Some cities and their people are truly amazing. The relation between the making of art and the generation of community is a fascinating topic. From the urban perspective to the more intimate experience each person has around this symbiotic relation. The Sense of place of a city goes far beyond the physical boundaries of architecture or the pieces of art (if any) laying around the public space. It is intrinsic to the communal experience of the people inhabiting the space.

From music, pantings, urban art, graffitis, videos, buildings, design or new media... Art is intrinsic to the city. and the urban general experience is explicit on the demonstrations of art on them created.

So is that when you visit a city with a vibrant art scene, you can feel it on your skin, breathe, it acquires a volatile state and so with it, the community is more united. I am not saying that this in the only element creating or feeding communities. it just happen to be simply fascinating.

I admire contemporary artist and/or designer that decide to take that to the next level, involving the community on interactive authentic works of contemporary art.

A very great sample of that is the interactive installation done for the "Contemporary Art Gallery" on Vancouver, CA on 2005. Design by Rethink Communications

"50,000 buttons were displayed, each printed with a single word representing one of a hundred possible responses to contemporary art. The public was free to walk away with as many buttons as they wanted in this interactive promotional installation for the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver.