ABOUT:
"ALTAR.ATIONS" is a series of public art interventions inspired by the practice of building street altars to indicate someone’s untimely death. In contrast to the nature of this urban phenomenon, the project subverts the relationship of street altars with gang violence, drugs, and punishment to provide awareness and public dialogue about crime and violence in the streets of Northern Manhattan.

DESCRIPTION & FUNCTIONALITY :
Using the aesthetics of street altars (cardboard boxes, milk crates, plastic flowers, candles, etc.) the project incorporates physical installation materials. At a distance, it looks like any other box created for someone’s death. In proximity, as people walk by the street corner or building entrance where the piece is temporarily placed, they can notice the peculiar elements of the piece.

DOCUMENTATION:
The following picture documentation is from the Manhattan Arts Stroll 2010 where the project was featured on Sunday, June, 13, 2010.

LOCATION:
Various sites: Cooper St. & W. 206 St. / 10 Ave. @ 204 St. / Vermilyea Ave. & Academy St. / Sherman Ave. & Thayer St. / Broadway @ W. 190th St. / W. 181 St. & Bennett Ave. / Audubon Ave. & W. 178 St. / W. 172 St. @ Fort Washington Ave. / W. 162 St. @ Saint Nicholas. Or follow the interactive MAP

To Download: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Postcard | Flickr Album