Call for Proposals: What Would be a Better Use of a Parking Space?

My friend, the artist Jenny Roberts, who launched a lovely parking space party this past April, has a new project underway to expand on the idea. (See my previous post on her parking lot party here.)

She recently issued a call for proposals. The details are listed below. Why don't you submit an idea? I'm mulling over a few myself.

Citywide parking space art event
Action/performance


This is a call for proposals for an action/performance to take place in early September (specific date and time to be determined) in a parking space somewhere in the city. The pieces should last approximately two hours.

The only requirements are that you:
1. Use a parking space with a meter
2. Don’t engage in any activity that would be illegal in and of itself

You will “rent” the space(s) by paying the requisite amount for the time. This payment should authorize and entitle you to use the space in any way you choose. Why should cars be privileged? Why should so much space be devoted exclusively to automobiles?

The purpose of these citywide action/performances is to interfere with the monolithic and unimaginative uses of urban space.

This citywide action is intended to extend and expand upon the parking space cocktail party piece held in April.

This is an art piece, but you don’t have to be an artist to participate.

Send your proposal to jenrobe@earthlink.net. The proposal should contain a brief description of your project, which can be solo or collaborative. Please include your intended location (by street number,intersection, etc.). The location is of your choosing and can be anywhere in Chicago. Please also let me know which dates don’t work for you in the first two weeks after Labor Day in September.

I will choose the date and time, consolidate the proposals into one announcement, map the locations, and publicize the time and date of the event.

All action/performances will take place at the same time and on the same date. Viewers may choose to attend one, a few, or all of the pieces.

Please send me your proposal by August 12. I will let you know the date and time by August 20.

--Jenny Roberts