Most of the people I talked to have never noticed them, now the cannot avoid them. Maybe this is the point. The boxes need to be noticed. As of right now the most fascinating part of this research is the stories behind Arts on Call. Reading about the people they portray, or the history of the neighborhoods. As I mentioned in the past blogs, it seems that the value of the project as an informative piece rather than an "artwork" is much higher.
There is no doubt that is in some sort a form of Public Art. However, they hold a similar position in the public-art-spectrum as the informative panel (the "you are here" and "what's to see in this area" ones) which, from a design prospective, are well done and worth to notice.
It is interesting how people with a different background, react differently to my explanation of what I am trying to do. The artsy-people find more interesting works such as the Mount Pleasant's sculptures. Historians like something like in Dupont or Tenlytown. Perhaps the variety offered, makes the project even more interesting.
People in the DC tourism field push the idea of creating "walking tours" related to each neighborhood through the position of the call boxes, an interesting project, but not for its artistic significance.
Some of the work is already coming apart. One of the Dupont Circle Box is pealing off and it is rusting. So the risk is that the boxes will fall into disuse again soon.
What is the solution?
Could the empty boxes become the frame to see the city from, and the city become the artwork? After all is a very constructed city.
What if the boxes themselves became the art rather than the frame for artworks or informational design work? They could become a blank canvas for visiting artists and local artists alike. It still needs some thinking. And talking. And seeing.
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