P.S. 1 Debuts "Pole Dance," Young Architects Program Winner

Yesterday P.S. 1 unveiled this year's Young Architects Program courtyard installation. The big design project serves as party central for the popular Warm Up music series, which kicks off July 3rd and marks the official start of summer for the North American Pale Skinned Hipster. 2010's winner is "Pole Dance," a "participatory environment that reframes the conceptual relationship between humankind and structure." In other words, there are giant balls for you to swat and bendy poles that make musical tones when you shake them. Like a giant cat toy, but for stoned humans.

The winning firm is Solid Objectives - Idenburg Liu (SO - IL), and it's a major coup for them, as the Young Architects Program is regarded in the architecture world as a "kingmaker" of sorts. Now in its 11th year, the program is now focusing on designs which address sustainability, recycling, and reuse. SO - IL got an $85,000 budget for the installation, and designed "an interconnected system of poles and bungees whose equilibrium is open to human action and environmental factors."

Needless to say, photographer Katie Sokoler loves it, and reports, "The installation is basically a giant playground for adults that encourages interaction. Many of the activities can't be done alone so that you're pushed to connect with other people. For example, in order to reach the balls in the net, someone must be pulling down on one of the poles. If you shake one of the poles it makes a sound but if multiple people shake them with you it starts to sound more like song. Even one of the hammocks was a bit too high so that you would need help from someone to hop up on it!" Helpsters, you are going to get so much tail at this thing.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts and Events on June 25, 2010 11:58 AM

Comments [rss]

Wylbur

AVOID AVOID AVOID

I went on Sunday afternoon 7/11 at 2pm. A security guard would not allow me to touch the poles, as he said P.S.1 is afraid of damage. Well then this piece totally failed as it is no longer participatory.

And by the way, the wading pool was closed--security guard was shooing kids away--and the area with sand, off to the side, was also closed.

So if the exhibit isn't touchable, and if the courtyard features are closed when the museum in general is open, there is no point to visiting

AVOID AVOID AVOID

RoboticInsides

Waste of money.

Mookie Wilson

A bit derivative.

http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame2/play.aspx?id=nets-n-climbs

Bloomsbury

It does make the people behind the Urban Farm from 2008 look like miracle workers to have pulled off what they did with a smaller $70k budget.

I'm also noticing a massive lack of shade in these photos too (but maybe it's not finished yet).

It does look like it could be fun and I like the idea of bring people together. I'll probably swing by during the week, but I don't fancy going to the warm-up this year unless there are more areas to chill like previous years.