the reason behind it all

This summer I am going to engage in a new adventure/study/program. The purpose of this "study" will be to critically analyze the Art on Call Project in Washington, DC in the context of public art. Art on Call is a project directed by Cultural Tourism DC, partnered with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (which provides most of the funding), and the District Department of Transportation. The idea behind the project was to refurbish the capital’s neglected emergency call boxes.

The call boxes have been unused since the introduction of the 911 emergency call systems in the 1970s, and finally abandoned in 1995 when all of the electronic components were removed. A city survey found about 1,100 boxes, 700 of which are ready to be redesigned. The Art on Call project started in 2000 and at the present time only 145 completed call boxes can be seen in the Capitol Hill, Cathedral Heights, Cleveland Park, Downtown, Dupont Circle, Forest Hills, Georgetown, Golden Triangle, Glover Park, McLean Gardens, Mount Pleasant, Sheridan/Kalorama, Southwest, Tenleytown, and Woodley Park areas. Each community chose a theme or color palette to unify all the boxes. The approaches taken to renew the call boxes’ design vary. (Facts from Cultural Tourism DC website)

However, it is arguable that the styles of the works designed for the boxes do not represent the current artistic aesthetic and are not of any value to the contemporary spirit of public art. There is more of a connection between the style of the works and a marketing campaign than a re-purpose founded in the worth of the art itself. I believe that a group of young artists, our Honors class for example, can offer a fresh take on some of the boxes, either within the boundaries of the Art on Call project or through a brand new initiative.

Throughout the summer I will visit Washington DC under a new light. My city-guide will be the Art on Call project. I will keep a record and post photos of the boxes. It is going to be a way for me to revisit DC and its underground art scene while thinking "out of the box".

DISCLAIMER: English is NOT my first language therefore I apologize if some of my sentences do not make grammatical sense.