The Museum of London recently launched a free iPhone app that looks amazing. Streetmuseum uses hundreds of the institution’s archival photos and links them to Google map. As you walk around the city you can actually hold up your phone and the historical image will superimpose on your screen (above). This is one of the best museum apps I have seen – it makes me wish I had spent a little more on a phone when I got here. My nine pound Samsung can’t handle that much awesome.
The Selby is a photography website that has gained fame by capturing the world of creatives in their living/work environments. A few months ago Todd Selby released a book of his work and promoted it at the Paris boutique Colette. The Selby took over the shop’s front window (top) and set-up residence for five days with a whole range of events, including everything from karaoke to interior design consultations (bottom right). All events were open to the public and free of charge.
This past year, living in the crowded expensive city of London, I have come to really treasure open community spaces. One spot that I love is London’s Southbank Centre. This enormous complex houses cultural icons like the Royal Festival Hall and the famous Hayward Gallery. But of equal importance to me is the building’s simple lobby (left); a place filled with tables, couches, free wifi and a cafe. Here groups hold meetings, people do work on laptops, some folks chat while others quietly read. While it may not sound much different than a typical coffee house – it is. There is no pressure to buy anything, no sign in sheet or regulated time slots. The cafe is a bonus; a side attraction to this community hub. As public spaces disappear or become commodified, this kind of environment seems increasingly scarce, especially in large cities.
Another example of an inviting community gathering space is Pielab in Greensboro, SC (right). I first read about this shop in the Jan. issue of ID magazine. The shop was initiated by Project M, a group of designers hoping to use the humble slice of pie and a cup of coffee as a way to start conversation and build relationships within the town. The shop’s success has enabled it to become a permanent institution, one that still serves affordable pie, but also helps train local youth in culinary arts, holds exhibitions and even offers the occasional ballroom dancing class. Its simplicity and openness has allowed it to evolve and become a true community center.
These are the kind of places I wish museums could be. While some insitutions’ face limitations because of their physical space, I think there is room to get creative. Not every museum has to host ballroom dancing or offer free internet, but perhaps some should. There is an opportunity for museums to fill the void left by our vanishing public spaces; it may not be a model that’s right for every institution, but a slice of pie never hurt anyone.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has launched an amazing program that welcomes ‘Rusty Musicians’ to join the professional orchestra for select performances. Hoping to increase interest in the BSO, the organization has included hundreds of amateur musicians in its concerts. I love this program because it is inclusive and community building, but it also offers an affordable way to attend the symphony. Tickets for rusty-pro musician shows sell for $10.
(via sloverlinett.com)
