I was able to make some copies and finally find some of the events that happened around the project, such as walking tours and unveiling events. It was interesting to see the various wards coming together to create a proposal.
There were studies on the design of the call boxes, surveys regarding the status of those boxes from the department of transportation, old newspaper articles about the project and artists portfolio. I will try to meet with at least one of the artists that took part of the project.
Some wards and neighborhoods seemed more organized then others. For instance, Dupont Circle had a whole binder that included all the documentation, permits, costs, articles, correspondence, artist's statement and brief history about the reasoning behind it.
I had to take in a lot of information. Everyone was very kind to me. So I am very thankful, but I might need to go back again.
On my way back, I walked by one of the Dupont Circle Boxes. Unfortunately I found it ruined. The graphic film that covered a metal plate positioned inside the box, was coming off. (Everything is documented in photographs that I will add soon) I am sure they took into consideration the maintenance of the piece, but maybe they did not think it would last so little time.
During my research, I realized that the main idea behind the project—besides renovating the call boxes—was to create a link between local artists, residents and historians. By doing so, they developed a new link between "current art" and "old history". In art history this link is very much present, public art in general (above all in the US capitol) is very much related to history. This project seems to take in a different side of history, that is often understated and overlooked. However, some of the work is very similar to the indicator panels seen around DC. I am trying to wrap my head around the importance of the project: is it informative? is it community building? is it art?
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