on Sunday June, 26 2011 my family and i took part in a live demonstration, in the middle of a busy street in downtown Dallas.
(press clips at the end)
no, we weren’t carrying signs or chanting politically charged phrases, or anything like that ~ we were set-up in a vendor tent with my art at a groovy outdoor market, just like you may find us on any other occasion where there has been an appealing opportunity to do so.
putting public places in unused spaces
the “Ross Ramblas” street market was a part of a much bigger event – the 72 hour “build a better boulevard” challenge by Better Block and the Dallas Complete Streets project. including me, there were 11 vendors set-up with their tents, in the middle of Ross Ave. near the Dallas Arts District. we were lined with real trees, and shrubbery. the “Mr. Freeze” sno-cone trailer was set-up in the middle of our row, and a lovely old piano sat in a open space – where some passers-by played a few tunes. across from the shade of our tents there were make-shift awnings where visitors sat at little cafe tables, and kids and their parents cut/pasted & colored at a craft tabe with space for visitors to walk. the whole experience was quite surreal.
the entire event lined Ross Ave., and (beyond the market) included food trucks, live music, a swimming pool made from a dumpster, bicycle lanes, bus stops and lots of shade – all temporary – to demonstrate even a “hot” city (temps neared 100ยบ) can provide plenty of usable walking space. the demonstration served as an example of how a city can attract commerce and positive community activity in any area by creating space for foot traffic.
the market was organized by Brandon Castillo, who heads the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market.
learn more about the organizations involved in this project:
Better Block 72 Hour Build a Better Boulevard Challenge ->
Dallas Complete Streets Project ->
press from this event:
FOX 4 local news cast ->
Dallas Observer write-up ->
D Magazine video ->
