 | |
| Abbreviation | AIOP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1996 |
| Purpose | Cultural |
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
| Location |
|
Director | Furusho von Puttkammer |
| Website | Art in Odd Places |
Art in Odd Places (AiOP) is a publicartproject based inNew York City exploring connections betweenpublic spaces,pedestrian traffic, and ephemeral transientinterventions. A festival takes place each October along 14th Street in Manhattan from Avenue C to the Hudson River.[1]
Founded in 1996 as part of the CulturalCultural Olympiad of the1996 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 ascavenger hunt) use a map to discover art in unexpected places. Art in Odd Places was founded byEd Woodham.[7] It is a current project of GOH Productions.[8]
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 andSetha Low, president of theAmerican Anthropological Association, with panelist: Bill Brown of Surveillance Media Players; Clarinda MacLow, choreographer and performer; andMelbourne'sPaul Carter, philosopher and artist from theLab Architecture Studio.[11]
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 artistFurusho von Puttkammer and featuredAkiko Ichikawa, Gretchen Vitamvas,Jonothon Lyons, Ivan Sikic, Yeseul Song, Yasmeen Abdallah, Julia Justo, Sara Lynne Lindsay and dozens of other artists.[12][13][14]