Guerrilla Gardening and the Secret Mall Apartment
Guerrilla Gardening and the Secret Mall Apartment
In the early 2000s, a surge in guerrilla art swept the US, with "yarn bombing" and "radical urban gardening" making a comeback from the 1970s.
In the early 2000s, a surge in guerrilla art swept the US, with "yarn bombing" and "radical urban gardening" making a comeback from the 1970s.
Guerrilla gardening involves planting flowers or veggies in public spaces without permission.
Guerrilla gardening involves planting flowers or veggies in public spaces without permission.
Yarn bombing involves wrapping public spaces with colorful yarn or other materials.
Yarn bombing involves wrapping public spaces with colorful yarn or other materials.
In 2003, 8 artists in Providence, Rhode Island, occupied a hidden space in a mall and lived there for 4 years.
In 2003, 8 artists in Providence, Rhode Island, occupied a hidden space in a mall and lived there for 4 years.
The Providence Place Mall opened in 1999, amidst Rhode Island's banking crisis and gentrification.
The Providence Place Mall opened in 1999, amidst Rhode Island's banking crisis and gentrification.
The artists used thrift store furniture to transform the dark, dusty alcove into a livable space.
The artists used thrift store furniture to transform the dark, dusty alcove into a livable space.
They created public art projects, including Hope Project Collages, which featured portraits made from painter's tape of 9/11 victims.
They created public art projects, including Hope Project Collages, which featured portraits made from painter's tape of 9/11 victims.
The artists documented their experience with a 12-megapixel camera, capturing the humor and irony of their situation.
The artists documented their experience with a 12-megapixel camera, capturing the humor and irony of their situation.
The artists terminated the lease that never was, and consequences followed, but they remain proud of their experience.
The artists terminated the lease that never was, and consequences followed, but they remain proud of their experience.
Today, the artists carry the key to the secret mall apartment on their keychains, symbolizing their time in the unconventional space.
Today, the artists carry the key to the secret mall apartment on their keychains, symbolizing their time in the unconventional space.