UNION SQUARE — Art in Odd Places is back, with a quirky lineup of exhibits and performances along the entire stretch of 14th Street.
Faux street signs, daredevil stunts and a hotline that invites participants to "air out their dirty laundry" are among the pieces featured in the ninth annual outdoor arts festival, which runs through Oct. 20.
The interactive exhibits by 30 artists can be found all along 14th Street, from the Hudson River to Avenue C, and each one connects to this year's theme: numbers.
Brooklyn-based artist Tracee Worley has created a toll-free hotline, which is advertised on fliers posted along 14th Street, and invites the public to confess their secrets by calling and leaving a message. After dialing the number, participants can press 1 to leave a message or press 2 to listen to messages left by other callers.
Passersby who want to get even more involved in the art can join Rory Golden in his "Human Cannonball Countdown." Golden is roving 14th Street during the festival wearing a colorful cape, inviting passersby to perform stunts including climbing on building pillars and lying face-down on the sidewalk.
“The result is a human cannonball counting down to audacious acts in cahoots with the public,” said a description of the exhibit on AiOP’s website.
Golden will be performing on 14th Street, between First and Seventh avenues, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 19 and from 3 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 20.
A much quieter display is "Wish Clock," in which artist Toisha Tucker installed a dozen clocks at the corner of 14th Street and Tenth Avenue, each with the hour and minute hand set on the same numbers, from 1:01 to 12:12. That gives New Yorkers 12 chances to make a wish, the artist said.
“There is something serendipitous about a clock face with all of its numbers the same or in consecutive order: a brief moment where it feels like anything is possible and wishes made are wishes that come true,” according to the work's description.
