Taking cues from the VARIABLE CITY:
Alternative Approaches to City-Making

On Tuesday, November 9, Julia Mandle and Ariel Krasnow, creators of VARIABLE CITY: fox square currently on view in an exhibition at Van Alen Institute, discussed their multidisciplinary initiative. In the spirit of collaborative investigation and exploration, the panel was led by Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, who is University Professor and Professor of Performance Studies at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University , where she chaired the Department of Performance Studies for more than a decade. The evening prompted a lively dialogue not only between the speakers but also engaged the audience in imagining this project as a prototype that could be translated for different urban sites across New York .

Julia Mandle, director of J Mandle Performance, a Brooklyn-based non-profit experimental arts organization and Ariel Krasnow, an urban designer conceived of VARIABLE CITY : fox square. The project, which culminated in a series of performances over four weeks last fall, was the result of their mutual interest in finding new methods of conducting urban design analysis and generating feedback from the local community. “Our goal was to challenge perceptions and heighten the public’s consciousness of this public space and in doing so raise awareness of the development potential of Fox Square ,” explained Mandle. She outlined the detailed research and in-depth discussions with practitioners and thinkers in the field that led to the creation of the performances, which were choreographed by Mark Jarecke. Krasnow presented an overview of the project focused on the urban design analysis that inspired the performances. She explained that their dual interests enabled them to create a project that led to strong public response – many of the hundreds of statements from the public are presented as part of the exhibition.

Kirshenblatt-Gimblett responded by highlighting the importance of such practices as revealing the “invisible potential” of our everyday surroundings. She praised the team’s determination in creating an approach to urban planning that was not predictable and generated outcomes that could not have been projected or planned--allowing for greater awareness and understanding of public space. Many questions were raised at the event: Is consciousness-raising enough? How can these types of projects be mobilized and have a direct effect on the planning process? How can such projects enable the public to continue to take a greater interest in and assume a greater role in the planning and design of their cities? These fundamental questions made for a vivid discussion that centered on the possibilities for these types of creative practices. Kirshenblatt-Gimblett concluded that it is important to make the planning process more transparent, more visible to the public and “give people agency to participate in envisioning their own environment.”