I centered my two projects on the efficiency of NewYork’s public spaces. I’ve always had passion for the usage of space and their efficiency. And that is the main reason why I chose my major; Interior Design and the reason behind why I chose Systems and Strategies.
The class visit from City Lore was something that really stuck up in my mind. The way they cared about different public spaces and how each space has its own little story brought me back thinking that they might be part of people’s lives after all. One quote that I found helpful in gathering my ideas was “small urban places are “priceless,” and the city street is “the river of life…where we come together.”
For my Studio Final, I decided to make an playful interaction for kids with Union Square. The simplest and easiest way to spread the history and facts about Union Square might just be children telling their parents what they’ve learned about Union Square or even just completing this fun little activity while the parents drink coffee at the benches. I decided to take this approach because I felt that this was how I used to engage with the art works at famous museums in Paris when I was living there a child myself. France always tried to include kids and their art education starts at a very early age. In Museums, they would have kid’s packets where there were activities like coloring (plus free mini color pencils), treasure hunting, games…etc. I decided to make one for adults or kids with educational purposes but also express their creativity.
I made 7 cards for the 7 different facts about Union Square. The children are free to do anything they want to do with it, but the best way would be to find seven different locations to draw. Also, I made a little map to guide them where they were in terms of the map.
The reason behind the Vintage look I went on for the packaging is to bring back the essence of touch and having something in hand to keep. Usually so many people are on their phones, even kids now use phones and are materialistic.
Here are some photos of the finished product.
Studio Final
(Front View) Est. 1882 – The year Union Square was first built
(Back View)
(Inside: Cards)
(Inside: Map of Union Square)
I couldn’t find little mini colored crayons but I would have included them inside the packet.
=
Seminar Essay: I decided to write 7 entries on key things to know about Union Square in general. Except for the facts I wrote about Union Square being a location for drug dealing, I think these facts are perfect and work both way for the studio final.
Union Square
New York city has managed to create vast amount of public spaces for the people living in such urbanized area. Very easy examples of such public spaces in New York City are the public parks. People might think they’re simply just spaces where New Yorkers can take a break from their urbanized surroundings and feel closer to nature but that isn’t quite all. They’re places where social interaction is easily possible. Organizations are able to hold events that usually help businesses nearby, people are able to voice their thoughts by protesting.
Farmers Market/ GrowNYC
Farmers Markets have played a great role in revitalizing the area, from a drug dealing abandoned area to a flourishing people friendly tourist area. The major food market that manages this is from the non profit organization called GrowNYC. GrowNYC created in 1970 is an organization that was able to operate the Union Square greenmarket , building community gardens, teaching people about the environment, recycling awareness.
According to their website, Grow NYC’s mission is “ to improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.”
It all started out with 7 farmers in 1976, and now hosts around 140 regional farmers, fishers and even bakers for around 4 days a week, the growth of the Farmers Market hosted at Union Square might be the largest accomplishment Grow NYC has ever had.
Protests
The first protest rally in Union Square Park takes place in support of the Union on April 20, 1861. Along with the 10,000 workers marching for first-ever American Labor Day rally that took place in September of 1882. Since then, Union Square has been New York’s number one hub for rallies, political protests relating to immigration, race and politics. On sunny days, Union Square is filled with people playing chess, performances and people just sitting to talk. On those days, organizations or even small groups of people stand with signs
Needle Park
About 20 years ago, Union Square was not a place you would call up your friends to gather. The park was filled with homeless people, and drug dealers. Throughout the years, the so called “Union Square Park” we know, had several different nicknames such as Needle Park and Methadone Alley. Along with this park, another park located in Greenwich village, called Washington Square Park, and even the uptown city-run facility called Madison Square park, residents are still reporting specific areas where the drug dealers use the open space for such activities. These drug involving activities are happening in a place , where people seek a leafy shaded area to lie down on the grass to read a book and where kids are running around in the playground area.There had been several police arrests in Union Square, around May 2012, NYPD arrested 10 drug peddlers and 2 carrying. In total they found up to 160 pills including Xanax, Klonopin as well as 2 bags of Heroin. Recently there hasn’t been cases dealing with such amount of drugs but the usage of the park to simply smoke weed happens on a daily basis.
Union
Many people don’t know the meaning behind “Union” in the name for the Union Square Park. Most think that it comes from federal union of United States or just labor unions in general due to the ever first labor union march that took place there. But it actually comes from the location, placed between or at the “union” of then-Bloomingdale Road and Bowery Road which is now Fourth Avenue and Broadway,
Landmarks
In Union Square park, there are in total of four major historical monuments, usually good meeting spots for people in area.
The statue of George Washington, the first president of the United States is the oldest sculpture in New York City Parks collection. It was built by Henry Kirke Brown (1814-1886) dedicated in the park on July 4th 1856. The statue, made of Bronze and Barre granite measures overall 26’4” and is located in the South end of the Union Square Park.
Next, is the Statue of Abraham Lincoln which was also built by Henry Kirke Brown not long after his death and was sponsored by Union League Club. The statue is made of Bronze, Dix Island, ME granite and measures about 8’, located in the North end of the park.
Another is the Statue of Marquis de Lafayette, a french general fighting for Americans during the American Revolution built as a token of appreciation from the french government on September 6th 1876. It was built by Frederic-Auguste Barthodi, who also designed the Statue of the Liberty in 1886. It’s built with Bronze and polished Quincy granite which measures 15’ height and stands in the Park Avenue South at 16th street.
Last but not least, the most recently built is the statue of Mohandas Ghandhi, dedicated on October 2nd, 1986 on the 117th anniversary of his birth. Well-known leader of nonviolent protests for the Indian independence from Britain, this statue of Gandhi was placed in the park due to the tradition of protest that happens in the park.
Activities
Every year, Union Square brings in neighboring businesses near Union Square to strengthen the consumer and business-to-business through hosting events. In 2017, 198 events were hosted at Union Square Park. Around February, Union Square uses local gyms, fitness studios that are near and brings them to host events such as Sweat Fest. And around summer, Union Square Partnership brings hundred of activities at the park. Lastly, around fall, they host Harvest in Square, bringing in local restaurants and their wine.
Sanitation
As Union Square is becoming a very popular place, Union Square Partnership has put effort in keeping the park clean with their Clean Team working seven days a week. Thel lime green bistro tables and chairs have been newly added. According to Union Square Partnership’s report on the year 2017, there are 22 Clean team workers, 45,745 hours of cleaning done, 237 feet of graffiti removed.
Public spaces as they’re open and accessible to the people, it is so easy to tell whether that public space is really working or not by simply observing the place yourself. William H. Whyte, an American urbanist, journalist and organizational analyst, working with New York City Planning Commission in 1969, became interested in the efficiency of public spaces in the city. He conducted observations and film analyses of open public spaces such as parks, streets, corporate plazas, all over New York City. More than anything, Whyte believed in the perseverance and sanctity of public spaces. For him, small urban places are “priceless,” and the city street is “the river of life…where we come together.”
Annotated Bibliography
Collins, Meaghan. “Union Square: Activism by Design.” Off the Grid : The Blog of the Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation(blog), December 10, 2012. Accessed May 02, 2018. http://gvshp.org/blog/2014/12/10/union-square-activism-by-design/.
This website was the most informative in terms of the past history and union square came to be in terms of the space used for protest, in order for the people’s voices to be heard and concludes with how it still is used with that purpose. A lot of factual information, dates and even photographs of these events taking place.
Goicochea, Julia. “A Brief History of Union Square, New York City.” Culture Trip. December 21, 2017. Accessed May 02, 2018. https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/a-brief-history-of-union-square-new-york-city/.
A NewYork Guide and tips post for Union Square on Culturetrip, a website for exploring different cultures. It gives information on how Union Square had impact on the Labor movement in NYC.
“GrowNYC | The Sustainability Resource for New Yorkers.” Union Square Greenmarket Monday | GrowNYC. Accessed May 01, 2018. https://www.grownyc.org/.
Grow NYC is the main organization that funds the farmers market in Union Square. It not only gives people in New York the chance to buy fresh organic products, it is beneficial to the farmers themselves. The goals they’ve set and the achievements they’ve made have largely impacted the efficiency of Union Square.
Johnston, Garth. “Police Arrest 10 Alleged Drug Dealers, 2 Users In Union Square’s ‘Methadone Alley’.” Gothamist. Accessed May 01, 2018. http://gothamist.com/2012/05/10/police_arrest_10_dealers_2_users_in.php.
An article on the largest arrest of drug dealing that happend at Union Square park. It adds to the fact that Union Square long before the efforts put in, was a park that people were afraid of, and lead to inefficiency of the area.
Martin, Douglas. “A Growth Spurt for Union Square Park.” The New York Times. September 12, 1998. Accessed May 08, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/12/nyregion/a-growth-spurt-for-union-square-park.html
New York Times article on how Union Square has grown over the years. It addresses what the people wanted and how they’ve tried to incorporate them into improving Union Square.
“New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.” §1-04 Prohibited Uses : NYC Parks. Accessed May 08, 2018. https://www.nycgovparks.org/.
This is a New York government organized website that specifically gives information about the parks. It gives detailed information on the location, basic history, events that happened and will happen, some key figures (if there is)…etc.
“William H. Whyte.” RSS. Accessed May 03, 2018. https://www.pps.org/article/wwhyte.
William H. Whyte was an urbanist, journalist and an analyst. He with his own curiosity, researched how public spaces were working out in the city. He started his Street life project, conducting observations and research with film on open spaces in New York City.
Union Square Partnership Annual Report 2018. PDF. New York: Union Square Partnership.
This is an annual report for the Union Square’s profile, improvements, important numbers from the year 2017. It shows the current state of Union Square and the things Union Square Partnership is doing to improve the state and usage.