International PARK(ing) Day 2010

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to participate in International PARK(ing) Day 2010:

Parking spaces around the globe are temporarily reclaimed

On Friday, 1 October the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is hosting International PARK(ing) Day from 10.00am – 5.00pm. This annual, worldwide event inspires people everywhere to transform metered car-parks into green parks – places to actively re-imagine the possibilities of the urban landscape - at least until the meter runs out.

The Govett-Brewster, the Sustainable Transport wing of the New Plymouth District Council and The Green Bench Gallery in Whanganui have teamed up to bring artists to fill Queen Street in New Plymouth with art installations, activities and mini-green parks; creating more urban, social and green space around the inner city.

International PARK(ing) Day effectively re-values the metered parking space as an important part of the commons – a site for cultural expression, socialising and play. Although the project is temporary, with 700 parks, 140 cities, 21 countries and 6 continents being involved in 2009, PARK(ing) Day encourages the public to participate in the civic processes that permanently alter the urban landscape.

“Streets are places for more than just cars” say Nathaniel Benefield, Sustainable Transport Coordinator for New Plymouth District Council. “Our streets were once a place for cultural and economic exchange, a place where we played as kids, where we walked, cycled and drove about on with a greater consideration for other users. International PARK(ing) Day reawakens the social function of the street by temporarily re-humanising some of the space currently given over to the parking of empty cars.”

Originally instigated in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”

A ‘Parking Lounge’ information hub will be set up with chairs and couches for people to come sit down, relax and find out about PARK(ing) Day and the artist’s projects in the street. Café Govett-Brewster will even bring your coffee order out to you! Come; join us on Friday to take part in this global event outside the Govett-Brewster.

More information regarding our local PARK(ing) Day activities can be found at www.govettbrewster.com and a global map of all participating cities is available on the PARK(ing) Day website, at www.parkingday.org

About Rebar (www.rebargroup.org). Founded in 2004 in San Francisco, Rebar is an internationally recognised art and design studio operating at the intersection of art, design and activism.

ENDS

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