Curb Your Creativity
Nov 28, 2020 09:14AM ● By Sean Sullivan
Traffic calming.
Has a nice ring to it, no? The phrase conjured certain notions in my mind when first I heard it. I imagined a worker on his way home from the “office,” weary if not white-knuckled after a long day on the job. Only the rush-hour hell to face, go the lyrics sung by Sting, the bard belting out the tale of his world-wearied suburban breadwinner. But what’s this? The harried motorist glances over, a splash of unexpected color catching her eye. Here is art where one might least expect to find it. Painted on the road itself, the piece pulls the driver from her ennui, elicits a pleasant response. The unconventionality of the canvas, combined with its striking artwork, makes for a welcome diversion. Thoughts drift to the process and inspiration of the anonymous artist, whose work came to be painted upon the pavement. But it turns out I was wrong. At least about the driving part. Mostly. The Traffic Calming Public Art project is coming to Natick, but is geared more toward those going about town on foot. The effort is aimed at making the downtown area more amenable to walkers and cyclists, reclaiming a small patch of real estate that’s been commandeered by cars ever since they came on the scene. In effect, the footprint of the sidewalk will swell during the duration of the project, widening outward to occupy a bit of the street. Flex posts will be fastened beyond the curbside to recoup a bit of the roadway, removable structures that rise like exclamation points from the pavement to ward off traffic. It’s within these margins that the creative work will take place and be on display. Such traffic-calming, curb-widening measures go by several monikers in the urban dictionary - neckdown, nib, bump-out, elephant ear, blister. Think of them as visual and spatial speed bumps, spaces that make the distracted driver sit up, take notice and care. But if that’s the substance of the project, the art itself will certainly be its style. The town plans to invite local artists to fill in these borders with drawn and painted art - graffiti (but sanctioned!) on the paved ground. “Really to enhance the downtown experience at this time,” said Athena Pandolf. She is executive director of the Natick Center Cultural District. The NCCD works to promote creative and commercial vitality and character within the town. “We’re just looking for artists to fill in these areas with fun and art. We have such a wonderful artist community.” What that finished artwork will look like is yet to be determined. The Public Art Committee (a creative arm of the NCCD), seeks to pave the way for public works of art in the town. The PAC is currently soliciting submissions from local artists to take part in the Traffic Calming Public Art project. Spaces of varying sizes are available, each a stretch of concrete canvas upon which to paint. These will be located at the intersection of Routes 27 and 135, caressing curbside corners where the two byways meet. There will be six spaces to vie for, and artists awarded the spots will also receive a stipend for materials and their creative labor. Artists interested in the project can submit proposals, and if accepted, may begin creating as soon as the springtime weather allows. Submissions will be accepted until the Jan. 15 deadline, and the work must be completed by May’s end. Through the recently-implemented Cares Act, Natick received funds as a bulwark against the economic effects of the pandemic. Consultants were brought in to evaluate the town’s assets, and determine what steps the community could take to help businesses struggling with the shutdown. Novel outdoor restaurant spaces were one upshot of these evaluations, dining areas that repurposed parking lots and spots for use by local eating establishments. Banners were bought and brought in to somewhat beautify the barriers that divided outdoor diners from drivers. Along with an increasing focus on outdoor activities came the idea that an uptick in foot traffic requires a renewed emphasis on pedestrian safety. Hence, the focus on traffic calming. The intersection’s slight reduction in navigable space for cars means safer spaces for walkers and bikers to make their way. Apropos of safety, several stakeholders had a hand in ensuring the project was feasible. Dry runs were conducted with emergency vehicles (fire trucks and the like) to make sure they’d be able to negotiate the corners and wide turns of the intersection’s truncated topography. “The idea is to keep people safe,” said Pandolf. “We’ve kind of been able to join in and add some art to it. Just to add some color and life.
Has a nice ring to it, no? The phrase conjured certain notions in my mind when first I heard it. I imagined a worker on his way home from the “office,” weary if not white-knuckled after a long day on the job. Only the rush-hour hell to face, go the lyrics sung by Sting, the bard belting out the tale of his world-wearied suburban breadwinner. But what’s this? The harried motorist glances over, a splash of unexpected color catching her eye. Here is art where one might least expect to find it. Painted on the road itself, the piece pulls the driver from her ennui, elicits a pleasant response. The unconventionality of the canvas, combined with its striking artwork, makes for a welcome diversion. Thoughts drift to the process and inspiration of the anonymous artist, whose work came to be painted upon the pavement. But it turns out I was wrong. At least about the driving part. Mostly. The Traffic Calming Public Art project is coming to Natick, but is geared more toward those going about town on foot. The effort is aimed at making the downtown area more amenable to walkers and cyclists, reclaiming a small patch of real estate that’s been commandeered by cars ever since they came on the scene. In effect, the footprint of the sidewalk will swell during the duration of the project, widening outward to occupy a bit of the street. Flex posts will be fastened beyond the curbside to recoup a bit of the roadway, removable structures that rise like exclamation points from the pavement to ward off traffic. It’s within these margins that the creative work will take place and be on display. Such traffic-calming, curb-widening measures go by several monikers in the urban dictionary - neckdown, nib, bump-out, elephant ear, blister. Think of them as visual and spatial speed bumps, spaces that make the distracted driver sit up, take notice and care. But if that’s the substance of the project, the art itself will certainly be its style. The town plans to invite local artists to fill in these borders with drawn and painted art - graffiti (but sanctioned!) on the paved ground. “Really to enhance the downtown experience at this time,” said Athena Pandolf. She is executive director of the Natick Center Cultural District. The NCCD works to promote creative and commercial vitality and character within the town. “We’re just looking for artists to fill in these areas with fun and art. We have such a wonderful artist community.” What that finished artwork will look like is yet to be determined. The Public Art Committee (a creative arm of the NCCD), seeks to pave the way for public works of art in the town. The PAC is currently soliciting submissions from local artists to take part in the Traffic Calming Public Art project. Spaces of varying sizes are available, each a stretch of concrete canvas upon which to paint. These will be located at the intersection of Routes 27 and 135, caressing curbside corners where the two byways meet. There will be six spaces to vie for, and artists awarded the spots will also receive a stipend for materials and their creative labor. Artists interested in the project can submit proposals, and if accepted, may begin creating as soon as the springtime weather allows. Submissions will be accepted until the Jan. 15 deadline, and the work must be completed by May’s end. Through the recently-implemented Cares Act, Natick received funds as a bulwark against the economic effects of the pandemic. Consultants were brought in to evaluate the town’s assets, and determine what steps the community could take to help businesses struggling with the shutdown. Novel outdoor restaurant spaces were one upshot of these evaluations, dining areas that repurposed parking lots and spots for use by local eating establishments. Banners were bought and brought in to somewhat beautify the barriers that divided outdoor diners from drivers. Along with an increasing focus on outdoor activities came the idea that an uptick in foot traffic requires a renewed emphasis on pedestrian safety. Hence, the focus on traffic calming. The intersection’s slight reduction in navigable space for cars means safer spaces for walkers and bikers to make their way. Apropos of safety, several stakeholders had a hand in ensuring the project was feasible. Dry runs were conducted with emergency vehicles (fire trucks and the like) to make sure they’d be able to negotiate the corners and wide turns of the intersection’s truncated topography. “The idea is to keep people safe,” said Pandolf. “We’ve kind of been able to join in and add some art to it. Just to add some color and life.
