2024-04-27T06:54:12-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/80010418/spirit-of-space-presents-art-in-the-city-a-short-film-honoring-chicago-s-public-art Amelia Taylor-Hochberg 2013-08-21T20:26:00-04:00 >2013-08-28T03:14:02-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/a1/a1raf1szf04fyrx2.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>The success of a public work of art is measured not merely by aesthetics, but rather, by its magnetic qualities that inspire interaction. The art is a reflection of the City, the art becomes a part of the City, the art is instrumental in making the City.</p></em><br /><br /><p> Acting as poetic translators between cities and their citizens, the creative agency&nbsp;<a href="http://spiritofspace.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spirit of Space</a>&nbsp;uses digital media to showcase humanity's built environment, consequently enhancing the citizen's self-awareness and appreciation of architectural space. Their film for Skidmore, Owings &amp; Merrill, entitled <em>Art in the City</em>, visits a selection of public art installations in Chicago, presenting the structures within an engaged society, with quotations from their creators superimposed on the footage.</p> <p> <img alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/z3/z3hshpc8o3bnaox4.jpg" title=""></p> <p> <em>Art in the City</em>'s perspective contextualizes the art as truly part of its city, rather than tightly framing it as an isolated portrait. While not an explicit critique of the public art, the film and featured quotations are bold strokes, meant to inspire dialogue and enthused interaction, but not push a specific argument. In line with Spirit of Space's agenda, the film provokes questions of public art's purpose, civic relationship, and whether it "succeeds". Inherent to these questions ...</p>