Art in Odd Places


Art in Odd Places is a public artproject based in New York City exploring connections between public spaces, pedestrian traffic, and ephemeral transient interventions.

Background

History

Founded in 1996 as part of the Cultural Olympiad Public Arts Program of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with a from 1998–2005, AiOP curates one large-scale project each year. During the program New York pedestrians happen upon the artwork by coincidence while others use a map to discover art in unexpected places.
Art in Odd Places was founded by and is currently directed by Ed Woodham and is a current project of GOH Productions.

Mission

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. 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. 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 and Setha Low, president of the American Anthropological Association, with panelist: Bill Brown of Surveillance Media Players; Clarinda MacLow, choreographer and performer; and Paul Carter, philosopher and artist from the Lab Architecture Studio.

Collaborations

Collaborations have included partnerships with Lincoln Center, School of Visual Arts, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and The Public Space Research Group.