An article by Adam Frank argues that a discussion of quality of life in cities, as an emerging of "science of cities" claims to improve, must include a discussion of public art.
Adam Frank pushes back on the emerging ideas of the "science of cities" by identifying an urban manifestation that might escape scientific inquiry: "Cities clearly are more than a new kind of physics problem. They are also creations of the human imagination and, as such, they live or die by the quality of the imagination we bring to them."
"Thats [sic] why no discussion of the health of cities can be complete without thinking about the role of art — public art," adds Frank.
As an example of the power of inspiration available through the best public art, Frank examines WALL/THERAPY, "a week-long celebration of street art and its power to transform urban spaces" founded by Dr. Ian Wilson, a radiologist at the University of Rochester's Strong Medical Center.
FULL STORY: When Cities Become Science, Where Does Art Fit In?
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research