Art in Odd Places (AiOP) is a public artproject based in New York City exploring connections between public spaces, pedestrian traffic, and ephemeral transient interventions. A festival takes place each October along 14th Street in Manhattan from Avenue C to the Hudson River.[1]

Art in Odd Places
AbbreviationAIOP
Formation1996
PurposeCultural
HeadquartersNew York, NY
Location
  • 14th Street in Manhattan, NYC from Avenue C to the Hudson River.
Director
Furusho von Puttkammer
WebsiteArt in Odd Places
Artist Julia Justo performing at Art In Odd Places (AIOP) 2021:NORMAL, New York. Photo by Marcela Ariaz

Background

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History

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Founded in 1996 as part of the Cultural Cultural Olympiad of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta,[2] AiOP has curated one large-scale project each year since 2005.[3][4][5][6] During the program New York pedestrians happen upon the artwork by coincidence while others (like a scavenger hunt) use a map to discover art in unexpected places. Art in Odd Places was founded by Ed Woodham. [7] It is a current project of GOH Productions.[8]

Mission

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Art in Odd Places aims to stretch the boundaries of communication in the public realm by presenting artworks in all disciplines outside the confines of traditional public space regulations. AiOP reminds us that public spaces function as the epicenter for diverse social interactions and the unfettered exchange of ideas.[9] Projects have included a performance addressing the issues of public vs. private as it applies to the public restroom, to art teams activating space by cleaning the sidewalks of 14th Street in Manhattan.[10] In 2006, Art in Odd Places presented "Imagining New Public Space", a panel to discuss alternative public places for art. The panel was presented in collaboration with Radhika Subramaniam, founder of interdisciplinary art journal, Connect:art.politics.theory.practice and Setha Low, president of the American Anthropological Association, with panelist: Bill Brown of Surveillance Media Players; Clarinda MacLow, choreographer and performer; and Melbourne's Paul Carter, philosopher and artist from the Lab Architecture Studio.[11]

Recent developments

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In May 2021, Art in Odd Places (AIOP) 2021: NORMAL launched a series of installations, performances and visual art along 14th Street. It was curated by artist Furusho von Puttkammer and featured Akiko Ichikawa, Gretchen Vitamvas, Jonothon Lyons, Ivan Sikic, Yeseul Song, Yasmeen Abdallah, Julia Justo, Sara Lynne Lindsay and dozens of other artists.[12][13][14]

References

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  1. ^ "Art in Odd Places Festival Comes to Manhattan - Cultivating Culture". cultivatingculture.com. 2016-10-07. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  2. ^ Mary Jane Jacob and Michael Brenson, Conversations at The Castle, MIT Press, 1998, ISBN 0-262-10072-X
  3. ^ "Art in Odd Places: 2005". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  4. ^ "Art in Odd Places: 2006". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  5. ^ "Art in Odd Places: 2007". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  6. ^ "Art in Odd Places: 2008". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  7. ^ "Art in Odd Places web site". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  8. ^ "GOH Productions: Current". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  9. ^ "GOH Productions". Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  10. ^ "Art in Odd Places : Meaning Cleaning". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  11. ^ "Lower Manhattan Cultural Council: Imagining New Public Space". Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  12. ^ "Art in Odd Places (AiOP) 2021: Says this is NORMAL". Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  13. ^ "BYU's Sara Lynne Lindsay connects generations through her art | Community News | heraldextra.com". www.heraldextra.com. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  14. ^ Krasner, Bob (19 May 2021). "Artists set up pop-up installations for three-day festival on 14th Street". amNewYork | The Villager.

Freedom of Expression

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