When NPA Leaves, Opportunities Abound

This is what the corner of 10th avenue and 26th street looked like before NPA was forced to take down its illegal signage and succumb to the pressures of concerned NYC residents. Part of the NYSAT project was done with an interest in freeing these spaces of commercial messaging in hopes that they would be used for public works. Sadly we have not seen as much public work as we would like to see, but that isn't due of lack of interest, it's more a lack of resources and the illegality of public participation in the curation of our shared environment.

That said, this is what the location looks like today as a result of Betten's newest piece. I think the change is wonderful, and a fantastic example of the difference between commercial use of public space versus public use.

BETTEN in NYC. Photo by a friend of the artist