HYDE PARK — The Hyde Park Art Center will be the epicenter of artists, architects and designers thinking about public space June 14-15.
“Their insight and experience in different contexts will help us to better understand the politics of architecture, the cost of safety and new ways to engage with, reclaim, and theorize the public sphere within a highly controlled urban framework,” according to MAS Context, the magazine and design firm organizing the conference.
The conference will start at 1 p.m. Saturday at the art center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., with a discussion with international architects and designers inside John Preus’ sculpture, "The Beast."
“The conference activates a two-story hollow sculpture in the form of a dying bull into a town hall that encourages discussion and learning about the history, alternative use and social value of built space,” according to MAS Context.
Spanish architect Patrizia di Monte will talk about her work in Spain on revitalizing vacant lots as public space.
Designer Quillian Riano will talk about issues of quasi-public space that arose out of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York when protesters set up camp in Zuccotti Park, a space that existed a gray area between a public park and an office courtyard.
Mimi Zeiger will talk about trying to do urban development with a method that she calls “The Intermediate,” which mixes top-down planning and bottom-up community action.
The conference continues at 10 a.m. Sunday with a trip to public housing development Lathrop Homes, 2000 W. Diversey Ave., with designer Riano and artist Preus for a daylong workshop.
Participants will spend the day working on how public space can meet the needs of a very specific community.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit mascontext.com/news/our-public-space-program/
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