A recent rise in appreciation of street art – as seen in film, in art books, and even on museum walls – has encouraged connoisseurs to seek worthwhile works outside of traditional galleries and exhibitions. Because few are likely to stumble upon an authentic Banksy mural in their everyday life, a crop of new apps has emerged to help users uncover works of public art in their respective cities.
Street Art London: With the Summer Olympics mere months away, London is finalizing preparations for an impending influx of athletes, tourists, and press. For summer travelers who seek a diversion outside of the stadiums, the Street Art London app for iPhone offers a comprehensive map of the metropolis’s vibrant outdoor art scene. This virtual guide features more than 280 urban art installations, including works by renowned graffiti artists like Banksy, Obey, Pablo Delgado, and Eine. The app’s Map Mode, which uses GPS functionality to plot and track users’ locations in relation to street art sites, is sure to prove particularly useful among visitors who are unfamiliar with the Tube.
With springtime officially upon us, many are feeling inspired to leave the dark days of gym exercise behind them and head outdoors. But instead of replacing a monotonous treadmill with a repetitive daily jog, people are spicing up their routines and letting their creativity flourish by making art as they run.
The Color Run: Participants of The Color Run begin their 5k race in plain white attire, but leave resembling a tie-dyed canvas. As runners/walkers pass each kilometer’s “Color Run Zone,” they become immersed in a new chalky paint cloud of highlighter yellow, neon green, Caribbean blue, hot pink and a celebratory “Color Extravaganza” finish line. Less about competition and more a celebration of hues, the national touring event encourages runners of all levels to partake in the festivities. And if a day of exercise and florescent paint doesn’t sound like enough fun on its own, The Color Run ends with a huge dance party of what resembles a troupe of human Jackson Pollock paintings.
As Cassandra Report subscribers know from 2010’s FaSCInation macro trend, the possession of scientific knowledge has gained its own form of street cred. More recently, “Open Science” collaborations have lent a new prestige to hacking. But this movement goes well beyond fashion. In fact, the Internet now affords researchers an efficient method of scientific discovery within which almost anyone can contribute to experiments, be they physical, digital or social.
BioCurious: “Hackerspaces” are surfacing in considerable numbers, demonstrating that young researchers want lab environments that are as social as their online lives. To that end, a “biohackers” space was created for scientists and entrepreneurs to explore innovations in biology. The 2,500-square-foot BioCurious community lab in the Silicon Valley offers members a welcoming site in which to conduct experiments and/or participate in enrichment classes. To date, 30 paying members have used the space, leading the founders to consider starting an incubator to fund startups, similar to that of Y Combinator or Bing Booster. Suddenly, the idea of meeting a new ‘lab partner’ doesn’t sound too harrowing at all.
Last fall, ballet shed some of its hoity-toity stigma and now another classical art form is being democratized for a younger, less affluent demographic: opera. A new boy band answer to the Three Tenors aside, fringe interpretations of opera are bringing glass-shattering vocals to audiences previously more likely to be found at a gritty rock club than a gilded theater.
Opera on Tap: The difference between a self-taught folk singer and a classically trained opera singer may not be as dramatic as most believe. Opera on Tap is a national non-profit whose mission is to remove the socio-economic barrier between opera and its prospective fans by organizing performances in casual watering holes. A recent staging in LA saw a Rossini aria bring down the house at the Room 5 Lounge, a venue that typically hosts singer-songwriters and comedians. The open mike-style format yielded a variety show feel in which audience members could hit the bar at will rather than having to wait for an intermission like at the Met.
As unique lodging alternatives become more accessible, more travellers are opting for accommodations that offer a story to share with friends. Indeed, hanging out in a sceney hotel bar no longer holds the same cool cred as, say, staying overnight in a 100-year-old tugboat. The nautical set, in particular, is seizing the opportunity to cater to these more adventurous travel desires by opening “boatels.”
Boggsville Boatel : The Rockaways have been attracting hip New Yorkers all summer and, now, urban tourists can stay there overnight—at sea. Artist Constance Hockaday has created a hotel of five abandoned vessels found at the local marina. Each boasts a distinct personality: The Americano is referred to as “the Guido boat”; the Crumb offers a retired couple vibe; New York, NY claims the Euro touch; Queen Zenobia is small and cozy; and Ms. Nancy Boggs is touted as the love nest. Rates are just $50-$100 per night, but the place is sold out for the summer. Nonetheless, visitors are encouraged to come for evening festivities, which include picnicking, grilling and water-themed entertainment.
