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Obstacles and examples

Monday, July 30th, 2007

As if to prove a point, the HWL project got completely rained out on Sunday. It was to be a short but powerful day of chalking. I was going North from Battery Park past the World Trade Center site to Chamber Street. (Getting to pass by the green building, 7 World Trade Center, on the way).

I expected it to be a somber day, I am still powerfully affected by being around the WTC site. The contrast and similarities between imminent danger (terrorism) and future danger (climate change) would have been interesting. I will write more about that when I actually get to draw the line up to the site… (The line goes through the center of the site).

I met up with a journalist from The Discovery Channel. We were to bike over the bridge to the west side to start drawing the line. Unfortunately the bike she was going to borrow had a flat tire, so in honor of our French cameraman, I let her ride on the front of the tricycle most of the way. On the flats and downhills it was not a bad deal, although at one point she was taping and asking me questions and I got completely winded because I was talking and pedaling pretty hard. It was quite a laugh that I was ferrying her around on the trike. We certainly got a lot of looks, and when we got into the city we got some honks and rude driver attitudes.

We got down to where we were going to start chalking and were waiting for my filmmaker, Justin, when the sky opened up. The weather had forecast rain in the early afternoon and then clearing for a few hours, I was thinking we could get some chalking in between the rains. Unfortunately it just kept coming down. We waited around for a couple of hours and finally decided we should just postpone (I will tack it on to the beginning of the 8/11-8/12 weekend). Justin asked me to talk a little bit about what was happening on camera. I explained that process of getting ready and the disappointment (after mentally and physically preparing for a big day) of not getting to do the line. I didn’t fully realize the impact until I started talking about it – and I almost cried! Seriously, I don’t think it was that big a deal, since I would still get to draw the line, but I was really really tired, and I guess I had really put myself in a certain frame of mind.

Anyway, it has been postponed, I waited out the rain and then biked the whole kit and kaboodle back over the bridge (lifting the filled chalker onto the trike is damn near impossible by the way) and put it back in the studio to go out again in a couple of weeks.

Posted in battery park, chalk line, climate change, community, Discovery Channel, global warming, public art, World Trade Center | 1 Comment »

Speaking of global issues

Monday, July 30th, 2007

Saturday was an exciting day for the HWL project. After drawing the chalk line through the financial district, I was going to spend the day not walking and talking, but pretty much staying in one place and meeting the people passing through.

I was up early to load up the ZipCar with all of the beacons and equipment to install the illuminated beacons in Battery Park. After a number of people said I wouldn’t get a permit to install in the park, I got enthusiastic support from the Battery Park Conservancy and City Councilman Gerson’s office and was able to install the beacons and chalk the line through the park. (It’s a good thing too, since I was indeed asked for permit proof for the first time in the project).

Filling with water

I installed around 40 beacons from the Greenwich Street entrance down almost to the water. I chalked from the East entrance of the park all the way to the water and then back along to Greenwich Street, chalking in between the beacons. Line meets the water

This line was interesting in some of the things that lay below it. Not only was Clinton Castle on the other side of the line, but also the Staten Island Ferry Building, the Governor’s Island Ferry Building, the Whitehall Street subway station and the Battery Tunnel – that’s a lot of transportation infrastructure.

Reflection in beacon cap

Margo & Sky & I pass the memorial

After setting up the beacons, filling them with water and capping them off, I did the chalking with the assistance of my friends Sky and Margo. We spoke to some ladies visiting New York from Wisconsin and Florida, a couple from Long Island who had brought some friends to the Statue of Liberty, and a gentleman from India who was visiting on business.

Speaking with people

He was very interested in the project because he felt that Americans were very much talking about environmental issues in comparison with India. He said that despite the severe weather events which they have faced, and the potential massive devastation that could occur with climate change, there was not a public discussion around environmental issues. Instead the entire country was obsessed with growth, development and acquisition of wealth. It’s too bad that developing countries don’t look at America and instead of thinking “we want all that” think maybe, we want more, but we want it in a better less devastating way.

Interview with TF1

As the day wore on, the crowds in the park ebbed, and as the sun was setting the TF1 crew came out again to see the beacons in the park. I went along the line of beacons and lit all of the led’s at the bases.

Lighting the line

The beacons lit into a glowing blue line of light. I have to admit, I was stunned with the beauty of them. It was such an interesting contrast with the rest of the project – most of the chalking is noisy, interactive, always moving. The beacons are quiet, still and contemplative. The few people left in the park were enjoying the serenity of the beacons in the park. A gentleman from New Jersey who was on a bike ride, stayed in the park for an hour or so and enjoyed walking around and photographing the beacons. I also got to talk to a local resident for some time who really liked the installation in the park and appreciated the site-specificity of the work and the message which it brought to a diverse crowd of people visiting the park.

Beacons at night

I really enjoyed watching the transition of the park over the day. Early in the morning I spoke with a man who fishes off the walkway on the water and a man who has been feeding the squirrels for years, and all the squirrels come to sit on and around him. Then the vendors started setting up and the Statue of Liberty guys came in and got on their costumes – they are all short large men in those outfits! Then the crowds started coming in and the buskers showed up. There is an amazing amount of cooperation between the various factions that operate down there – it is all very professional and friendly – they help each other out, take turns entertaining or taking breaks, etc. As the day drew to a close, the tourists disappeared, a truck showed up and took away all the vendor carts and the illegal bag salesmen filed in. Then it all emptied out and the locals were able to enjoy the peace and quiet of a beautiful waterfront park. It was a long day, but endlessly fascinating.

Sorry about the fuzzy beacon images, both Jose & I didn’t think to bring a tripod!

Posted in battery park, chalk line, climate change, community, French News, global warming, NYC Parks, public art, street vendors, tourists, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Can you spare five minutes for the environment?

Monday, July 30th, 2007

One of my favorite things that has been written about the project was written by Andy Goodman, of “good ideas for good causes.” He talks about the people on the street pleading for you to stop and give some time (and money) regarding any number of good causes, and then says “In one of America’s busiest cities, Mosher isn’t stopping people to talk about global warming. They’re stopping her.”

I put that to the test in Lower Manhattan this weekend. busy people on the street

I had myself sort of psyched up for the chalking from Brooklyn Bridge to Chambers street,where I would pass by South Street Seaport, Wall Street, through Battery Park and then past the World Trade Center site. I had in my mind that it would be a really different weekend, it would be the first really business heavy area, the first big tourist area, the WTC site, and the area with the highest security. All of that certainly made for an exciting weekend, but there is more. Let me tell you about it…

Friday I biked from home to the Canary Project studio, arriving at about 9:15am. I was met by a cameraman and sound guy from TF1, French news television. They were to follow me around for the day. They shot some stuff of me checking out the maps and loading up the trike (chalker, 50 pound bucket of chalk, misc locks, camera, my bag) and took some shots of Ed and I heading out. We rode to the gas station so that I could put some air in the chalker’s tires (it’s called the heavy hitter and it’s tires deflate bi-weekly). Then on the road again.

A little ways on the TF1 guys stopped me because they wanted to try a different shot. The cameraman wanted to ride on the front of the trike and film me while I pedaled along. I’m sorry, you want to do what? He wanted to sit on the heavy hitter and face me (with an enormous camera) and ride along. I, um, well I don’t know. He protested that he didn’t weigh much and it wouldn’t be for long, could we just try it out? Keep in mind that I am already pedaling about 100 pounds of weight on the trike, which is a single speed (no gears) with cruiser brakes (pedal brakes) and some super bouncy shocks (I feel everything).

My favorite ballast

Reluctantly I agreed – concerned more for his safety than for my ability to pedal it – so on he popped and off we went. Turns out the ol’ trike can make the weight not feel so bad. It was a little awkward to have to look around the huge camera in front of me, but all in all a pretty fun experience. At the end of the block the cameraman jumped off and off Ed and I went for the Brooklyn Bridge.

It can be a pretty slow slog up the long ramp on the bridge (although Ed said I “booked it” but I think that is a relative term – “booked it” compared to expectations not other bike speeds). The first couple of times that I rode over the bridge, I had to walk part of the way. Now I can make the whole ride up – not that it is easy or fast by any means. I get quite a lot of looks along the way as I pedal the trike across the bridge. Most in sheer wonderment – I don’t know if the looks are for the tricycle or for the chalker on the front (might be both). The bikers on the bridge are an interesting story too – I get about half that are totally wowed by the trike and think it is a hell of a thing, and about half who seem more annoyed than anything (I am after all like an SUV in the bike lane).

Ed and I met the TF1 guys at the Manhattan side archway on the bridge. First we did a shot of me riding down past the cameraman, then I had to ride back up again and down one more time since the sound guy was in the first shot. They were apologetic about making me ride uphill again, but at least it wasn’t a steep part, and I explained it wasn’t a big deal since I did this ride pretty frequently lately.

Then the cameraman again requested to ride on the front. I knew it would change the braking dynamics, but was willing to give it a try. Up again, perched on the chalker and off we went for the long downhill ride. Wasn’t too bad except for the crowds of tourists (which can make unexpected swerves and movements on the bridge) the swing of the heavy camera when he panned (the front of the bike can be squirelly) and the soreness in my leg from holding the brakes on…We looked a little like a super budget film crew or something.

Loading the hopper

At the base of the bridge the cameraman hopped off and we went on our ways (I have to take sometimes a much more circuitous route) to meet up again at Water Street and the south side of the Brooklyn Bridge. There we were also joined by Jose, who is doing some documenting of the project, and we had Megan from Canary Project, who met us on the bridge when Ed had to leave. I unloaded everything and locked up the trike, filled the hopper of the chalker with the 50 pounds of chalk, walked over to the bridge wall and started putting down the line.

Cobbled streets

It was pretty quiet on the north end of South Street Seaport, was able to just go along quietly chalking on the cobblestones. At the plaza where Fulton, Pearl and Water come together we started to see a lot more crowds – mixed bag of tourists and business people. And a traffic cop that I skirted around on my way across the busy plaza.

Harsh words from security

I wound my way through the forest of skyscrapers, marking chalk lines past construction sites and lines of hungry business people waiting in line for their lunch. While I got a few curious glances, most people were rushing to or from their lunch break. A few security guards gave some harsh words – not to me but to the people documenting – warnings about photographing the buildings. About halfway through and still no people interested in talking about what I am doing (what a contrast from the Brooklyn neighborhoods!)

middle

The TF1 guys found someone who was asking about the project and corralled him over to talk to me about it. A block later and a young woman asked “What are you doing?” I came over to tell her about it, but when the cameras got close she shied away saying “I don’t want to be on camera I was just being nosy!” But she let them film as I explained the project and handed her and her workmate some Action Packets.

I was just being nosy

Jersey floods too

I talked to a number of the street vendors, they had more time to spend talking and asking questions. Most of them were from outside the area – one from Jersey, a couple from Queens – and they were interested in the larger impact of climate change and talked about their own experiences with flooding and storms and the changes they had notice climatically in their own areas. We finished the day chalking right up to the edge of Battery Park, where I would continue (on the other side of the construction) on Saturday. TF1 at Battery

More images of the bike ride coming soon from Canary Project…

Posted in C40, chalk line, climate change, community, French News, global warming, public art, street vendors, Uncategorized, Wall Street | 3 Comments »

This is your city on climate change – any questions?

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

Brooklyn Bridge

Sunday was the day to travel to the Brooklyn Bridge. I went right up to the bridge too. Below the line on the East side, from 14th to Brooklyn Bridge lay the FDR drive, a waste transfer station, a huge power station, a lot of river front parks, and of most concern, innumerable New York City Housing Authority complexes. Within these houses live (from what I saw) an incredible diverse and vibrant community. I have been working with Deborah Balk who is researching the impacts of climate change on coastal communities by looking at census data. She is investigating the economic, ethnic and ages of those along the coast. One of the fascinating aspects is how much NYC is a microcosm of the world. While in the US much of our coastal property is highly sought after and high value, in many parts of the world it is where the very poorest in the community live.

In the afternoon I was lucky enough to sit on a panel at CitySol with some of the fantastic artists who had done installations for the event (mine was the “offsite project”). The artists were The 62, Situ Studio, The Canary Project, Natalie Jeremijenko and Kate Zidar. We had the opportunity to discuss the power that art has in motivating awareness or action around climate change. We talked about the power of the visual message and the importance of engaging and empowering people. One thing that was brought up by Natalie was how artists can portray themselves within the discussion about climate change and how they are most useful. Her point (my interpretation of it) is that they are most valuale in raising questions. Not merely illustrating scientific data regarding climate change (which is in constant flux) but either acting as the questioner themselves (the artist) or providing the catalyst or tools for the viewer to ask questions.

Which got of to thinking about High Water Line (of course) and whether or not this was true for this project. Is it merely illustrating one potential climate scenario, or does it venture into the questioning role?

Brooklyn Bridge

Perhaps the most obvious questions it raises are the most frequently echoed – what does this mean to me and what can I do about it? I think it also gets people to rethink their perception of climate change. Maybe to begin to look at and define their immediate environment in a different way. To reframe the global warming issue from a global one to a local one, with real, tangible actions.

Any other thoughts?

Brooklyn Bridge

Posted in chalk line, climate change, community, global warming, public art | No Comments »

Bearing witness

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

chalk pile

Today, while out in Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach I had a photographer from Canary Project, Curtis along with me. He spent the day climbing lightposts, dodging traffic and laying on the ground to document the project. As I drew the line in front of a tall nursing home building, Curtis asked “So the nursing home would be under water?”

“Yes,” I answered simply.

Sheepshead Bay

It really got me thinking about how this project is both about local in the city/community sense, but also truly local, as in that building, that house in Manhattan Beach, that home in Canarsie, and yes, that nursing home in Brighton Beach. Curtis also spent some time photographing the things that would be lost. The park next to the NYPD horse stables, the long row of enormous condominium buildings on Ocean Parkway, the pizzeria, the small row of houses, the community college.

Ocean Avenue

I hope to work with a few different groups to get neighborhood youth out looking at where the line hits, and talking about the areas and places that are of importance to them or their neighborhood that would be lost.

There was the guy in Gerritsen Beach whose family grew up in and owned houses in the neighborhood dating back to his grandmother – in the worst case scenario, his own grandchildren wouldn’t have that opportunity. The gentleman who chose to spend the summer at his mother’s place in Manhattan Beach instead of his apartment in Bushwick, his children or grandchildren may not have that opportunity.

curb

But this project is about hope and belief in our ability to change the course we are on. There is the guy whose meditation class is focusing in July on less consumption. The woman in Sheepshead who wanted to get involved in the community in order to raise awareness about flooding. The family on the way to the beach who remarked how by saving energy, they could save money.

The project, for me, is a little bit of a rollercoaster ride every day and every week. It has its highs and lows. Sometimes I am really tired of pushing against the wall of trying to get permits. But then I speak to someone at a school or organization and there are great ideas for interactive programming. And for every one person who is a skeptic or annoyed about the chalk on the street, there are the 10 or more that are so excited about the project and the information that they high five me on the curb, or call out to say hello as I ride my tricycle down the road. Sometimes I am utterly utterly exhausted by the end of the day, but as soon as I put down the next mornings first stripe of chalk or have a kid run up to ask “What are you doing?” I feel energized and ready to take on the days path.

tricycle

So here I am, about halfway through Brooklyn (because the line is really twisty in the South I have covered about half the mileage of the project), and getting ready to do my 6 weeks in Manhattan. I get to look back at the stories that I have heard and the incredibly varied neighborhoods that I have seen, and the people I have met, and I feel really truly honored to be the one who is bearing witness. I hope that I can find a way to share the sights and stories from the project. I hope that I also am able to give something back to the communities through which I pass and to the people that I meet.

heavy hitter

Posted in chalk line, climate change, community, global warming, public art | 1 Comment »

Celebrate the differences, and the interconnectedness

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Some of you may have seen the NYTimes video on the High Water Line project. In it you can see me and “a guy named Ed” talking about the Brooklyn neighborhoods through which I am traveling. I am saying how fascinating and wonderfully different all of the neighborhoods are, but how this line (and climate change) connects them all. In fact it connects all of us, around New York and around the world.

This weekend I will be getting a big taste of those differences between neighborhoods. I will spend tomorrow wandering the streets of Gerritsen Beach. I really like this neighborhood – small streets with small plots of land and tiny little bungalows. To me, it is the epitome of what an urban beach town should be. It is a little spit of land between Plumb Beach Channel and Shell Bank Creek. Unfortunately I will only graze the northern portion of the area, because in the climate change scenario I am tracing, Gerritsen Beach will be all but gone.

Saturday I will travel through Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend and a little bit of Brighton Beach. These areas will be the most densely developed that I have traveled through yet. Brighton is getting a lot of new luxury condos lately, all on the ocean (flood) side of the line.

Sunday takes me into the tony Manhattan Beach neighborhood where I will draw a few block diameter circle which will outline the tiny portion of Coney Island which lies above the 10′ above sea level line.

Which takes me back to the connectedness which climate change engenders. The line that I am drawing, and the scenario of flooding every 5 years, is a worst case scenario if we stay on track, living and acting the way we do now. If we act now (as in today) and change habits and attitudes we can keep this flooding from happening. And it will take all of us acting together to have the greatest impact.

So, if you see me out drawing the chalk line, make sure to ask me for some extra Action Packets so you can hand them off to friends, family and neighbors. And if you are reading this blog, definitely forward links (and your thoughts on the project and climate change) to everyone you know – all around the world!

We can change the future…

Posted in chalk line, climate change, community, global warming | No Comments »

Beach Cities

Monday, June 18th, 2007

I think yesterday, in Mill Basin, was the first time I actually could see the water. And it wasn’t the ocean or the bay, it was one of the many basins that snake up into south Brooklyn. I have already skirted Spring Creek Basin, Fresh Creek Basin, Paerdegat (pronounced pah-deh-gat) Basin and now, East and West Mill Basin. All of these inlets provide ample opportunity for flooding, much like the canals that criss cross New Orleans.

Bergen Beach

I had heard some time ago about insurance companies pulling out of home insurance in the NYC region (I could only find this reference), one of the dads I talked to on Father’s Day confirmed this. He said he lost his homeowner’s insurance last year and has had a hard time getting new insurance. This even though based on the 10′ line he would be sitting on a dry peninsula of land…

Bergen Beach and Mill Basin proved to be much quieter neighborhoods. More suburban than Canarsie, there weren’t a lot of people out on the streets, although I could hear people out in the backyards enjoying the warm weekend weather. In fact, Sunday was so warm that I had to stop at Dolly’s for Italian ices not just once but twice. For those who are fans of good ices, this place is it. I have a picture of the menu I will post soon.

Dolly's

One of the really interesting parts of this project is getting to explore new areas of Brooklyn that I might never otherwise see. Certainly with the lack of transit or good biking options, Canarsie, Mill Basin and Bergen Beach aren’t going to be on most people’s itineraries, but I am glad they were on mine. It provided an opportunity to meet and talk to some really interesting and engaging people. I think ultimately to understand the power of the piece you really do just have to be there. So I encourage you to do so. If you are interested in coming out, check out the timeline and then contact me. Next drawing will be June 29-July 1 and I will get to visit Gerritson Beach and Sheepshead Bay…

chucks

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When it rains it pours…

Saturday, June 16th, 2007

I am really thrilled by the great (and multi-medic!) coverage of the project in the NY Times. The photos and the story really give, in my opinion, the intent and spirit of the project. I have also gotten a lot of great emails – I promise to get back to everyone after the end of the weekend.

I picked up my beautiful beacons from the fabricator today. They are so elegant looking and I really look forward to installing them. Unfortunately, some the permitting sort of fell in between some administrative cracks and I don’t have a permit for the weekend. I decided that it would be best to wait on the Canarsie Beach Park installation and re-schedule it when I get a chance to come out to do a presentation with Chris in the area.

So instead I spent the day drawing again. I finished up Canarsie, and moved into Mill Basin. I was being chased by a thunder storm, which finally opened up on us, so I will return tomorrow to finish the rest of Mill Basin. I had a really great day and got to talk to a lot of kids today. That was really fun. One young boy listened intently to Ed talk about climate change and actions to take on and then he said, “I’m on it!” We had a group of kids from like 5-9 following us around for a little while, and one girl was telling me about the butterflies that she saw at the museum. I don’t know if they fully grasped what we were talking about, but maybe the next time they hear something about climate change (in school or other) they will remember seeing the line and it will really click.

I have more stories to share, and will post those tomorrow (and hopefully get some of Ed’s great pictures!) And by the way, I fixed the rss and atom links for this blog – sorry about that….

Posted in chalk line, climate change, community, global warming, NYC Parks, public art | No Comments »

The drawing of the new coast continues

Monday, June 11th, 2007

Getting everything ready for the upcoming weekend. I will start on Thursday just west of Rockaway Parkway in Canarsie. By Saturday I will be in Mill Basin. Sunday will have me out in Canarsie Beach Park to install the first set of beacons.

Last night I spent a few hours at the fabulous Eyebeam, cutting stencils with the help of my friend Steve. Today I will be mixing pigments and figuring out how to get out to get my beacons. I also hope to put in an order for one of these babies!

If you want to join me, contact me! You can also donate to the project (the chalk, pigment and aforementioned trike aren’t cheap!)

Here are some more great images from the first weekend. I will be more timely with the images and updates from this weekend:

One Day Later