Useful Art works
Art that improves city living conditions by addressing social issues and enhancing the quality of life for urban residents.
Initiator(s)
Eduardo Costa
Description
The project was part of Streets Works, an event organised by a group of artists and poets in New York City. The artist in collaboration with Scott Burton, proposed that art would have a direct social impact and utility by improving city living conditions. His first Useful Art work consisted of buying metal street signs and placing them on the streets of New York, where they were missing. His second, consisted of painting a subway station on the Flushing line; Costa was prevented from finishing this work.
Goals
These art works were intended to attack the myth of the lack of utility in the arts, while being themselves a modest contribution to the improvement of city living conditions.
Beneficial outcomes
Improvement of city living conditions.
Location
US
Users
Artists, Scott Burton.
Maintained by
Eduardo Costa
Duration
1969
Category
Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social
