During the past half century Americans have developed the ability to ignore reality and see ourselves as victims.
Last Friday i rode down Market Street for the Market Street Prototyping Festival, an event organized by the San Francisco Planning Department to display the results of a series of charettes for Market Street amenities.
I did not linger at many, but quite a few were impressive and worthy of consideration for a long term display.
Like this ping-pong table.
And Timber Valley. Everywhere you see one of those vertical posts, the horizontal members can be articulated entertainingly.
The Peep Show. The inside is mirrored at various angles, so it’s trippy in there.
And the Book Mark.
The Fog Plane. If you walk between the sheer panels, you get a sensation that is supposed to be like walking in heavy fog. Ummmm, vaguely.
This one is called Tree Sitting. The photo does not do justice to the thrill of walking though all those “fronds” hanging down.
This cute little thing is Peak Experience.
It’s News To Me mimics Herb Caen’s old Royal typewriter. When you sit on one of the “keys”, hidden speakers play a recorded quote from his work.
The Data Lantern is connected to neighboring transportation systems and informs pedestrians about the arrival and departure of buses, trains, and ferries.
For sheer whimsy, the Bench-Go-Round is my favorite.
Wanna see the person on the other side through a distorting lens? Use Smaller and Upside Down.
Active Rest – a handsome wooden sculpture for sitting, standing, and leaning.
Lots of other good ones, but that’s enough. Well, except for this, not part of the official festival, that i spotted on the way home.
Oh, and candor dictates that the Market Street Prototyping website taught me a new word, charette. I shall start working that into conversations.