Body to Person, Place to Space

For us, living in a city, crosswalk signals are something we see (and ignore) every day of our lives. If the light says walk, we walk. If the light says do not walk, we still walk. It is a proven fact that those who dwell in an urban setting are more likely to ignore these signals, as they are omnipresent and soon fade into the background. By placing my sticker on the head of one of these signals, I was able to transform the "place" of a crosswalk into a "space" by giving it a face, a character. Now the signal is no longer just a series of lights that form an electronic body, but a compilation of lights that form a person. Just as a body becomes a person, a place becomes a space. There is a depth to it, a fuller reality. It is no longer an obnoxious signal telling us to put our lives on hold, but a source of amusement, a break from the monotony of the city, much like a flower poking up through the cracks in a sidewalk.

This particular intersection is that of Ruggles and Parker streets, but any intersection with a crosswalk signal would complete the same goal, turning such a place into a space. The goal of this goal in itself is simple – to offer a break to the businessperson hustling by. To allow the late student a moment to pause before class. All in all, to make someone smile.

-- Jillian