Urban connections come to light

Statues, monuments, and fountains are familiar sights in our cities. They often mark the places where our paths cross in daily life. Some of these connections are obvious, in urban squares and at street intersections. But some of these crossings are hidden or wiped away by history, while others [are more about ideas of coming together]. Here are some examples of urban connections coming to light:

Fontaine Saint-Sulpice, Paris (1843-1848)

A traditional take on the urban monument, the Fontaine Saint-Sulpice is a clear marker of permanence and provides a focal point for the plaza. It was built in the mid-1800s, at a time in Paris when public fountains were built as decorative memorials, rather than as sources of drinking water. This fountain, designed by the same architect as Napoleon’s tomb and located in front of the Church of Saint-Sulpice, commemorates French religious figures from the 17th century.

 

As If It Were Already Here by Janet Echelman, Boston (2015)

Some urban markers are temporary, bringing to light the hidden connections of the city’s past. Last year in downtown Boston, As If It Were Already Here suspended in mid-air, an installation by artist Janet Echelman made up of multi-colored knotted rope.

The shape and color reflected the distant and more recent past of Boston: the holes remind us of the original hills whose earth was used to expand the city into the harbor, while the bands of color recall the traffic lanes of the elevated highway that was once located on the greenway. It evokes history like the fountain, but in a more abstract way — prompting people to pause and wonder about the crossings made physical by the sculpture.

 

The Joining Project, Boston (2014)

Times of celebration and times of tragedy can bring people to express their connectivity in a tangible way, as a layer on top of physical crossings that already exist. After the Boston Marathon bombing in 2014, a group of artists initiated the Joining Project to “bring people together to make art, and fill the bridge with warmth!” Over 100 artists attached knitted and crocheted works to the Harvard Bridge, marking their human connections with a more whimsical side of art.

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Further Reading:

Crossings on a personal level, in photos (NEW)

 

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Take a walk around your own town or city. What markers of crossings — permanent or temporary — do you notice at street corners, in plazas, along waterfronts? How do these elements bring to mind the history and culture of the place? Get curious!

Submit your experiences through the contact page, Facebook, or on social media with the hashtags #crossings #skyMEMO #eTOPOS. We will continue adding ideas as they come in.