Islands of LA has begun to revisit and deepen its examination of the question of peaceable assembly or the right of assembly, which is raised by the legal context of pedestrian accessible traffic islands in the United States. The right to peaceable assembly – to meet or congregate in publicly owned space to deliberate, express [...]
About
Islands of LA is an expression of the desire for meaningful connection in urban public space. This ideal is pursued by exploring the seemingly absurd use of traffic islands as terrains for gathering and speech among friends and strangers that is both creative and critically minded. This use is not unprecedented: a rigorous site analysis reveals a global history of the use of traffic islands for gathering and expression, in spite of the difficulties of the space. Extending this tradition through events, interactive maps, and an archive of stories, Islands of LA invites us to explore the desire, the fear, and the possibility for connection and voice in the urban landscape.
Islands of LA was conceived of as a project to investigate the use and availability of the marginalized yet highly visible public spaces of traffic islands. Islands of LA views the traffic islands as everyday spaces and venues with a complex history and environment. The project explores the dynamics of these spaces through various ways including experimenting with the use of them. The exploration and usage of these spaces examines questions about public land use, law, urbanism, art and other topics specific to traffic islands. The project began on 9/16/07 and was conceived of by Ari Kletzky.
As Islands of LA expands beyond Los Angeles, “LA” will take on other meanings such as: Local Association and Legal Assembly. Los Angeles becomes Lawful Absurdity.
Additional information about Islands of LA:
Islands of LA Core Values
Islands of LA has a few core values of principles that guide the project and its use of traffic islands as a vehicle for an ongoing examination and engagement with the city landscape, taking into account a variety of perspectives such as urbanism, law and cultural theory. These values include:
1. View traffic islands as [...]
Traffic Islands: A History of Gathering
If you visit a traffic island in the United States, where public space for assembly is a rare commodity, you are celebrating and participating in a history of gathering. We often imagine the great town square and dream of people laughing, discussing politics, trading, meeting strangers, sharing stories. Many bemoan the loss of [...]
What is an Island?
What is an island? In geography, there is no clear definition that distinguishes an island from a continent other than saying it is smaller than a continent. Both terms, continent and island, are ambiguous and reveal the metaphorical quality of language. An island is a land mass surrounded by water. A continent is a continuous [...]
Most Likely (an open question of the law)
In the United States, traffic islands with pedestrian access are most likely protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Bill of Rights for peaceable assembly and free speech. What does “most likely” mean for Island Law?
The law in the U.S. is created by a complicated interplay among the Supreme Court, the U.S. Constitution and [...]
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy…
Consider the following quote when visiting an island as public space for assembly:
“Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.” – Ayn Rand
The First Amendment to the U.S. Bill of Rights
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
MiWon Kwon and Steven Wright
ILA is an experiment. One of the ideas it experiments with is the place of “cultural theory” in the practical sphere. Along these lines, some posts on this blog will highlight questions, thinkers, challenges, artists, projects, theories that relate to the way ILA is approaching this.
Here are two:
MIWON KWON (from One Place After [...]
Cultural Interchanges
An interchange is a place or thing where there can be an ongoing alternating or sharing (a constant back and forth, collaboration, participation). An exchange is a one-time trade, which can happen within the context of an interchange (like people exchanging trains at a cross-platform interchange).
Islands of LA uses traffic islands as a vehicle to [...]
Library
The following is a list of relevant readings. Feel free to comment on any of these or make a suggestion.
PUBLIC SPACE/SPHERE
Four Models of the Public Sphere in Modern Democracies by Ferree, Gamson, Gerhards and Rucht
A great survey and way to frame theories of the public sphere
Contesting the Public Realm: Struggles over Public Space in [...]