The ARTfarm in action.
Valeria Bianco and Justin Taylor for AFHny STUDIO
We just heard from Valeria Bianco, design consultant and AFHny Studio Coordinator about their latest, greatest project: The Bronx's very own ARTfarm!
Inspired by the neighboring farmers market and Bronx Museum (and made possible by the NYC Dept of Transporation's Urban Art Program) the ARTfarm is part art installation, part community garden taking over a weeded, run down Step Street on 180 E 165th Street between Grand Concourse and Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx.
Says Valeria:
Our proposal included planters of varied sizes, shapes, colors and materials with perennials that last the season and longer. We have been working with found objects like cabinet doors and elliptical tubing materials to create these planters. Moreover we have been trying to get the local community involved in the process of creating this communal space. With the help of the Bronx Museum, we participated in their family affair day where the children from the community painted planters. We plan on encouraging ownership of this space by asking neighboring households, bodegas, etc to adopt a planter in the site and look after its upkeep.
The ARTfarm is being installed right now. Check out the before and after shots:
And some work-in-progress shots of community folk building and installing their planters:
And you can jump right in! ARTfarm is trying to raise $2500 by Thursday so they can finish the project, so head over to Kickstarter to watch their video and help out.
