Can a parking space in a city really only be used by a car? A good question to consider. If you pay the parking meter – can you just take over the space?
In San Francisco in 2005 Rebar Studio set up a single parking space as a park for a day. This has now evolved into a global movement – PARK(ing) Day – where thousands of artists, activists, designers and citizens temporarily transform city parking spaces to show how ordinary public spaces can easily be re-imagined. On the 20th September 2013 Dundee joined a host of cities worldwide in a celebration of the city space, when students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design designed a number of installations for PARK(ing) Day. So carry on reading to explore the fun areas that popped up in Dundee.
Play Don’t Park crafted a space for people to play! Their motivational signage ‘PLAY’ was salvaged from a recently closed swimming pool and their installation of play cubes were covered in colourful doodles & drawings from the days visitors.
We’re Here to Make You Smile encouraged you to step towards happiness in their PARKing day space. After hopping over some motivational stepping stones, writing a happy memory on recycled CDs, you stepped into their transformed space made from recycled pallets to add your CD to the wall – where the happy memories of all the other visitors that day shining back at you. Then before leaving you were given a positive parking ticket – mine said “we love your dress”.
RE(cycle) crafted an exciting space where you were encouraged to jump on their intriguing bicycle contraption – they had hooked the old bicycles up to a pump that connected to a balloon. Balloons were blown up with ease & visitors encouraged to write an idea for improving sustainability in the city to tag their balloon.
CAR(nival) used recycled carpet tiles, old bottles, crates & tin cans to create a unique and colourful CAR(nival). They even handed out cones of popcorn & other tasty snacks – a definite lunchtime treat.
So instead of sitting and having lunch at work, I managed to:
- have a go at hoopla
- blow up a balloon with a bike
- jump into the happiness pod
- doodle in the play park.
Definitely, a good way to spend my lunch on Friday – even if it meant I ended up mainly just eating sweets.
+ Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Words & Images © Hazel Saunderson
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