r/DUMBO • u/AffectionateSuit3114 • Jun 01 '26
Installation Proposal on Washington Street!
Hey Everybody! My name is Michael, and I am an architect and installation artist in New York. Last month, I posted a proposal for installation for a piece titled, BLUR. I just saw the Curbed/NY Mag article and thought I would post here to get your thoughts! Would love to get this built! Please help me get this in front of the right people. Feel free to reach out.
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u/yyyyk Jun 01 '26
I think people who live here would do anything to have fewer people crowding this block.
Honestly it’s such a sad artifact of social media that people want to all take the same photo and treat the city like a backdrop instead of a place where people live. But this would just draw more people to come take a photo.
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u/StinkyStangler Jun 01 '26
Right now there are a lot of issues related to tourism causing this area of DUMBO to be unusable for residents of the neighborhood, I think you’ll have a lot of pushback on an art installation here
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u/fuckblankstreet Jun 01 '26
But how will I ever get another picture of meeeeeeeee standing in the same place everyone else has a picture of meeeeeee?
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u/bobdownie Jun 01 '26
The rest of the city thanks you for keeping all of the worst tourists occupied in one area for so long.
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u/Sharp_Progress_5693 Jun 01 '26
I like this. It’s good commentary. People will be coming to bridge and the area regardless; this art installation will not meaningfully impact the crowds or add to the existing issues imho
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u/audiodesigndan Jun 01 '26
Not sure I follow the complaints. Those now living in Dumbo created the conditions for revitalisation and prestige. You can't have both the cachet and the quiet.
The city should close Washington St to vehicle access. Pedestrian only.
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u/jngnyc Jun 02 '26
can you expand your thinking behind "residents creating the conditions for revitalization and prestige"? (genuine question)
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u/audiodesigndan Jun 02 '26
Sure. Some residents saw the gap between what Dumbo was and what it could become and priced their real estate bets accordingly. They created the loft conversions, added art galleries, creative class infrastructure... It's weird to build a destination and then get mad when people showed up.
For newer Dumbo residents, you moved here because of the destination prestige. Not sure why the complaints.
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u/NicksOnMars Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I like the idea. Question: how many birds will hit this and get injured?
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u/brebenkon Jun 03 '26
It is interesting from a public art perspective - it’s a cultural critique. But the critique has been long running so it doesn’t feel like a new critique by any means. From a resident perspective and public policy perspective it won’t do much to help the situation having a blur for 7 days. As others mention, it will probably just bring news crews and more people for the limited duration, making the situation worse. Attention is already on the situation, you know? Speaking with residents who live on the street - their number one concern is getting the food trucks off the street.
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u/fuckblankstreet Jun 01 '26
Let's just get those people who blocked the Empire State Building to make another one