This POPS (privately owned public space) was nicer than the average one was. It was pleasantly arranged with lots of places to sit and plenty of tree cover. Not perfect, and certainly no match for the famous Bryant Park one block away, but it’s solid attendance spoke for its quality. 

We did notice that one of the security guards was open carrying a pistol. This was terrifying and the first thing we chalked. “There is a man with a gun”

Passers by loved the theme of complaint. It resonated very strongly with all who came. Once they got to talking with other chalkers they started collectively dreaming of what could be. 

The environment was very hectic, with tens of people crossing the art every minute, but many of them participated. People were very eager to join especially as the ground got more filled with notes. 

Security came by multiple times and had to have the law explained to them, but they left after a short and polite conversation.

The sidewalk quickly filled up, and passersby had to expand into the privately owned public plaza. A natural spread emerged between the political and the personal. On one side people professed their love, drew animals, and wrote about their lives, always seriously. “I will love again”

The political side displayed the best New York has to offer. Beyond the political slogans referring to the city, Uruguayan, Mexican, and Kurdish liberation slogans quickly and quietly emerged. Many stopped to discuss ICE, Zohran Mamdani, and Palestine. 

A group of teenagers came by and took advantage of the chalk on the ground to fill an entirely separate part of the plaza, without asking anyone for permission. This was beautiful to see. Some walked by but stopped to write elaborate poems. Towards the end, there was nearly no chalk left and nowhere left to put the chalk. Men in suits, worried, began descending from the adjacent tower

Re-imagine New York with us. Every week, we will decide together what’s missing, then bring it into chalky existence. Become Robert Moses’ worst nightmare! (Almost) Every Friday this summer, we are bringing the chalk. All we need from you is your understanding of the city, your doodling abilities, and a desire to use our state-of-the-art chalk protractor. 

and… Here is our Manifesto!

read more about the idea in dialog (Miles and Nika in conversation.)