ABSTRACT
In 1965, artist Lilli Ann Rosenberg brought youth and seniors together in Harlem to create a street mural. In 1973, architect Bob Leathers organized a group of parents in Ithaca, New York, to construct a playground at his children’s elementary school. At the same time, landscape architect Karl Linn was bringing together residents in inner-city Philadelphia to build neighborhood commons on vacant lots. Today the tradition of professionals working with communities to design and build shared places continues. Artist Laurel True works with communities in Haiti, Ghana, and New Orleans to create mosaic murals that not only express their local cultures but also generate new sources of income. Rusty Keeler of Earthplay works with early childcare centers to construct natural play-scapes across the United States. The Pomegranate Center works closely with communities in the Pacific Northwest to create gathering spaces within their neighborhoods.
