Stories
The urban story can be found in the fragments of highly visible yet rarely noticed land. The sometimes left over pieces of urban planning and traffic management or remnants of history. While many people don't notice these seemingly banal places, traffic islands do have a history, stories of how they have been used in the past and today that gives us a lens through which to see this city and to reconsider the use and availability of public space.
These stories make up the Lore of the Islands.
Fort Hauser, a recurring sculptural spectacle
Islands of LA congratulates Fort Hauser on its use of traffic islands for public space and wishes success for 2012 as it embarks on new projects. Its great to see Faith Purvey‘s project evolve. Faith first contacted Islands of LA in early 2008 wanting to do [...]
Occupy LA uses island/median to protest Obama fundraiser dinner
Posted on Facebook: NEWS ALERT: An Occupy LA detail departs City Hall shortly. Their statement follows. “We are occupying the medians/traffic islands at Wilshire/Highland. President Obama will be arriving this evening to hold $35,800 per plate fundraisers at the homes of Hollywood celebrities. We are protesting the necessity that a president be bought-and-paid-for in order [...]
Bahranian assembly for democracy centered on a traffic circle!
The Bahrainians recently engaged in peaceable assembly on a traffic circle or roundabout known as Pearl Monument located in Manama, protesting for Democracy. They chanted “Peaceful! Peaceful!” and, at first, the government allowed the assembly. In a video clip from February 17, 2010, Senior White House News Correspondent, Jake Tapper, says “Hilary Clinton and other [...]
Candlelight March & Share (this Sunday)
[ April 3, 2011; 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] For Middle Eastern solidarity,
lets gather safely in the city
and stoke the kindling of group liberty.
We’ll meet at San Vicente and 20th on Sunday.
Moving, from 8 to 9pm, a soiree
along the wide, grassy median way.
Bring a story, snack or quote, a poem,
a song of middle eastern origin.
Holding candles or flashlights we’ll begin.
We’ll march until we reach [...]
Bahrainians Utilize Traffic Circle For Peaceable Assembly
The demonstrations in Bahrain began when people started gathering on a large traffic circle called Pearl Monument. Here are some highlights of the initial events:
February 20th, SFGate reported: In Bahrain, demonstrators triumphantly returned to the Pearl Square traffic circle after the military pulled back on government orders.
March 13th, AP International reported a [...]
Honk for equality!!
“Traffic island as public space. Honk for equality!!” says Linda Samuels, who sent in some pictures of a protest she spotted on this traffic island on October 24, 2010.
Grannies of Greater Westerly use a Traffic Island for Recurring Assemblies & Protest
Raging Grannies Protesting the War in Iraq, March 2008
On a traffic island in Westerly, RI, in March, 2008, the Raging Grannies staged a protest against the war in Iraq. According to the Grrrrannies of Grrreater Westerly, “The first Raging Grannies errr … sprouted … in 1986 in Victoria, BC, to sing satirical songs protesting nukes, [...]
Is Stonehenge the origin of the traffic island?
Stonehenge, Wiltshire. Stonehenge itself is owned and managed by English Heritage whilst the surrounding downland is owned by the National Trust. Image by Frédéric Vincent, 2004.
What is it about Stonehenge that makes
people take their senses leave? Oh, why
should a harmless group of megaliths
induce a softening of the brain?
Such questions [...]