Art as Public Participation

Candy Chang is using stickers, post-it notes and other low cost materials as public art displays in places that are in need of renovation or a face-lift. The sticker and post-its have a phrase or question on them, "I wish this was______" or "Before I Die______." She's placed them on blighted buildings from New Orleans to Fairbanks and let anyone fill in the blank.

"It's all fantasy, of course, and everyone knows it. But it gets people thinking about what their dream city would look like, and it probably gets them talking. Common desires start to emerge -- bike shops, art, affordable fresh food. The project lets people call out for others to take an interest in the city, and it makes them take an interest too."

A public art project that also creates public participation in community visioning is a fresh spin on citizen input.

Thanks to Cathie Pagano