Dancing Green Canvas
—— The Grand Garden by Self Building
What changes will happen to the life concept of urban residents through the experience of participating in art activities? What is humankind’s understanding of the vulnerability and durability of natural intervention? I can refer to the concept of arcadianism to create an idyllic space. Learning from the lifestyle of the neighborhood, such as children’s inquisitiveness of the world and adults’ communication by sharing life skills, I particularly want to mobilize working-class residents living on the margins of their communities to participate in the use of green space and listen to fresh ideas from different backgrounds. The reoccupation of urban green space is a meaningful process of cultural production. The public can feel a new dialogue with the surrounding environment and nature in the man-made world. It leads to an understanding of the land, a feeling of reliance, and being relied upon.
![]()
![]()
![]()
I plan with a specific context in New York’s green community space. Through the exchange of experience, we will explore how to understand the users of urban space and the possibility of knowledge sharing. Who can occupy and consume natural ecology equally? With this goal in mind, we aim to establish emotional ties between people in the community and neighbors, while respecting the social function and ecological awareness of green space. In the initial phase of the project, we will use the anthropological research method – field research, which can be used to integrate into the community’s life model. We will talk with the community and conduct random interviews with residents. This is conducive to observing the community structure and understanding the living standards of community residents’ professional culture. Then reached a consensus with the neighborhood committee to explore a fluid state of continuous transformation in the relationship between urban, natural, and human.
In the second phase, our main goal is to lead the working class and other residents of the community to redesign and build the use of this park and improve the community culture of this area. We will collaborate with El Warcha to build woodworking sculptures, leading people to participate in carpentry construction. There are two main construction projects. One is planting utensils prepared for the garden stage. The other is to build a playground. Adults can probably make one large and two medium woodworking sculptures, and children can create some small models. When people climb up to the sculpture and look at the surroundings from a relatively high angle, they realize that “I’m still in the city.” Sculptures will remain in the park and become the community’s common property. Based on all these experiences, the public has the ability to talk about the natural quality of the urban environment, the comfort of being outdoors in the soil, rain, sunlight, and the ability to take action for nature.
The latter stage is the output stage. Dancing Green Canvas wants to infiltrate art into the urban fabric. Through planned activities to enjoy playing and experiencing all the senses, curiosity, empathy, and participation. The project aims to involve people of different backgrounds in the same area, reflecting social culture and perceptions of specific areas and subcultures. People can apply the ideas, skills, or objects they gain from activities to their own lives. This friendly and organic exchange will continue the meaning of the event.
Public events/education programming
My main audience is the working-class residents at the edge of the community. I want to attract them to join in the use of green space. In addition, I also welcome the nearby residents who have already well use with this green space. We will organize about three stages of activities, namely woodworking and carving construction, material use, gardening discussion and sharing, and barter activities for children.
For the last activity, we will organize a barter playground for working-class children. I observed that parents might not have time to educate their children in many aspects due to their busy work. Children can bring their own toys, plants, or various daily necessities to exchange items with other children. They will begin to learn the concept of consumption and flexible communication. We want to guide children to learn how to distribute their goods and observe how each child communicates.
Artists/works/content
El Warcha: They work with local residents to produce temporary urban furniture and art facilities to promote practical education and civic action. El Warcha’s work mainly revolves around product design and woodworking activities. They usually focus on how to help each other, benefiting residents and helping the increment of emotional communication. They also rely on the ideas put forward by residents to think and explore common interests. Our cooperation plan will plan and design the functions of garden activities together. For example, slides, paths, dams, etc., optimize the atmosphere of the garden and the making of a piece of land unique in the landscape around the city. At the same time, a game adventure zone can also be set up. Whether it is for adults, children, or pets, they can wildly play.
![]()
![]()
![]()
The Horticultural Society of New York: This organization improves people’s lives through gardening, maintains the greenness of the community, and develops new ways to improve the health of New Yorkers. They have extensive experience in educating New Yorkers of all ages. I believe that cooperation with them can help me understand the basic natural environment of New York more easily. Our common goal is to ensure that all residents in the community, especially those in low-income and marginalized communities, can access green space. Together, we will organize seminars and public events on gardening, nutrition, environmental science, and culinary arts. Through such an interchange of knowledge, we positively impact the community, family, and life.
—— The Grand Garden by Self Building
Rationale
This project is focusing on research the cultural hegemony of cities. City is the center of cultural production. Paul Virilio argues in Pure War that cities are designed by the capital market in many aspects and that society is structured on speed. In the integration and game between capital and land, the invisible sense of oppression and a fast pace enveloped people. People lack the ability to observe their surroundings and neglect the meaning of the land. Natural enjoyment in the city is not a state of natural equality. With the current ecological crisis providing a stark backdrop to these urban issues, the rapid development of urban culture leads to an imbalance with the natural environment. With the emergence of new social struggles, people forget the perspective of integrating cities and nature. In New York, people seldom make good use of their land use rights. The wilderness of people, even children, has gradually weakened. I want to target New York as the first city to lead people to discover the value of urban green space and consider that the city is surrounded by nature and nature grows in the city. In the post-epidemic era, urban public projects are involved in people’s lives through participation and communication. This is to break the binary opposition between cities and the natural environment in the development of urbanization in the past.
What changes will happen to the life concept of urban residents through the experience of participating in art activities? What is humankind’s understanding of the vulnerability and durability of natural intervention? I can refer to the concept of arcadianism to create an idyllic space. Learning from the lifestyle of the neighborhood, such as children’s inquisitiveness of the world and adults’ communication by sharing life skills, I particularly want to mobilize working-class residents living on the margins of their communities to participate in the use of green space and listen to fresh ideas from different backgrounds. The reoccupation of urban green space is a meaningful process of cultural production. The public can feel a new dialogue with the surrounding environment and nature in the man-made world. It leads to an understanding of the land, a feeling of reliance, and being relied upon.
Space/Platform/Venue
Hunter’s Point South Park is a park near me in Long Island City, New York. This waterfront park was previously converted from an abandoned industrial area. After its construction, it was transformed into a space of fun and relaxation for the neighborhood. With views of Manhattan and the skyline, the entire open space is a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use community and waterfront park. The park itself is also surrounded by vegetation and the sea, providing a rich natural environment. In this area, in addition to newly built middle-class buildings, there are also some working-class and marginal residents of the community. Every time I go to the park, I rarely see these people come to the park. I observed that they would move around in their small surroundings rather than choose a larger space they could enjoy. Therefore, I chose this area to encourage them to join this park through more approachable, cohesive activities. It is a good experiment opportunity to understand the users of urban space and the possibilities for knowledge sharing. We hope that our choice could mobilize more residents to re-explore and understand this land so it can be well used and communicated.
Curatorial approach
I plan with a specific context in New York’s green community space. Through the exchange of experience, we will explore how to understand the users of urban space and the possibility of knowledge sharing. Who can occupy and consume natural ecology equally? With this goal in mind, we aim to establish emotional ties between people in the community and neighbors, while respecting the social function and ecological awareness of green space. In the initial phase of the project, we will use the anthropological research method – field research, which can be used to integrate into the community’s life model. We will talk with the community and conduct random interviews with residents. This is conducive to observing the community structure and understanding the living standards of community residents’ professional culture. Then reached a consensus with the neighborhood committee to explore a fluid state of continuous transformation in the relationship between urban, natural, and human.
In the second phase, our main goal is to lead the working class and other residents of the community to redesign and build the use of this park and improve the community culture of this area. We will collaborate with El Warcha to build woodworking sculptures, leading people to participate in carpentry construction. There are two main construction projects. One is planting utensils prepared for the garden stage. The other is to build a playground. Adults can probably make one large and two medium woodworking sculptures, and children can create some small models. When people climb up to the sculpture and look at the surroundings from a relatively high angle, they realize that “I’m still in the city.” Sculptures will remain in the park and become the community’s common property. Based on all these experiences, the public has the ability to talk about the natural quality of the urban environment, the comfort of being outdoors in the soil, rain, sunlight, and the ability to take action for nature.
The latter stage is the output stage. Dancing Green Canvas wants to infiltrate art into the urban fabric. Through planned activities to enjoy playing and experiencing all the senses, curiosity, empathy, and participation. The project aims to involve people of different backgrounds in the same area, reflecting social culture and perceptions of specific areas and subcultures. People can apply the ideas, skills, or objects they gain from activities to their own lives. This friendly and organic exchange will continue the meaning of the event.
Public events/education programming
My main audience is the working-class residents at the edge of the community. I want to attract them to join in the use of green space. In addition, I also welcome the nearby residents who have already well use with this green space. We will organize about three stages of activities, namely woodworking and carving construction, material use, gardening discussion and sharing, and barter activities for children.
The first activity is a woodworking sculpture workshop, which mobilized the community to build woodworking sculptures with the artists of El Warcha. Wood, unlike steel, gives a sense of intimate softness, as if you are in a quiet sanctuary. Some working-class residents may also have rich experience in the use of wood. Perhaps at this stage, they can teach each other and cooperate to build carpenters together. This is not only an opportunity for them to show but also an opportunity to communicate with others in the community and build friendly relationships. At the same time, the results of this stage will pave the way for the next activity, and we will feel the achievement.
The second workshop is to set up planting-sharing sessions. There will be teaching practice of planting plants and food. Residents will use the woodworking works of the previous stage as utensils for flowers and plants. It will bring a sense of belonging to the land because it is a complete process of building green space. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, and plants will be planted in this space and will be well nurtured by the residents. The gradual progress makes people more deeply connected with the nature of this green space and more skilled in the use of space. This state urges us to imagine how to find a real public relationship between art and land, and how to have a reasonable, long-term, and healthy relationship with nature.
For the last activity, we will organize a barter playground for working-class children. I observed that parents might not have time to educate their children in many aspects due to their busy work. Children can bring their own toys, plants, or various daily necessities to exchange items with other children. They will begin to learn the concept of consumption and flexible communication. We want to guide children to learn how to distribute their goods and observe how each child communicates.
Artists/works/content
El Warcha: They work with local residents to produce temporary urban furniture and art facilities to promote practical education and civic action. El Warcha’s work mainly revolves around product design and woodworking activities. They usually focus on how to help each other, benefiting residents and helping the increment of emotional communication. They also rely on the ideas put forward by residents to think and explore common interests. Our cooperation plan will plan and design the functions of garden activities together. For example, slides, paths, dams, etc., optimize the atmosphere of the garden and the making of a piece of land unique in the landscape around the city. At the same time, a game adventure zone can also be set up. Whether it is for adults, children, or pets, they can wildly play.
