Process

Space For Art was concieved from a design prompt to visualize two data sets that reframe the urban environment of New York. Reflecting on my recent experience working in a private art gallery, I decided to investigate the spatial relationship between galleries, museums, and public schools throughout the five-burroughs.

                                    (1) Map depicting public schools (green), art galleries, and museums (red and purple) against household income in ArcGIS

(2) Concept drawing and mockup for physical model based on ArcGIS Map
From the digital map I began to consider broader relationships between the public school system and art institutions in New York City. I narrowed my focus to Public Schools considered “underutilized”, a designation made primarily based on the average class size of the school, and private art galleries. The idea that there was untapped space in hundreds of City owned buildings excited me, and presented an opportunity for collaboration between the worlds of education and private art. My early sketch and model attempt to represent this potential space through a tangible physical space, denoted by the central cube. In contrast to this positive potential, I sought to represent the current relationship between my two actors and the city: employing lines that show the direction resources flow from each party. In the case of public schools, resources flow towards the center of the model, towards residents of New York and the geographic space of the City, whereas lines from the galleries stretch outside the bounds of the model away from city residents.
(3) Process of laser cutting NYC educational districts with cutouts for the locations of schools and galleries
Outcome


(4) Close ups of final model, which measures 24”x 24”
Using a Universal laser cutter, acrylic sheets, pins, string, and an acrylic solvent I went about fabricating my model. I translated my ArcGIS Map into vector files, etching a base map of the city in clear acrylic and the local school districts in blue for clarity. Finally I filled the laser cut holes using a pin to anchor individual threads into around 300 holes. The physical model along with the accompanying poster was exhibited at NYU Gallatin in the Summer of 2023.

(5) Final infographic and poster detailing my project mission and sourcing
Space For Art
Data Mapping Physical Model Graphic Design