The Urban Forest Project
The Urban Forest Project is a unique public arts initiative, which invited local artists and designers to employ the idea or form of the tree to make a powerful visual statement on street-banners that were then displayed in their community. The tree is a metaphor for sustainability and in that spirit, the banners at the close of each exhibition were recycled into totebags and auctioned off to raise money for a local environmental cause.
Worldstudio conceived the project in partnership with Times Square Alliance and the New York Chapter of AIGA. Worldstudio managed future iterations of the project with local partners across the United States.
The Urban Forest Project logo.
The Urban Forest Project launched in New York City’s iconic Times Square, during the fall of 2006. It featured 185 leading artists and designers from 21 countries.
Banners in Times Square (left to right) by Rodrigo Corral, Ward Sutton and Scott Pauli.
At the close of the exhibition in Times Square, the banners were re-purposed into tote bags by Jack Spade a division of accessories designer Kate Spade.
The bags were auctioned to raise funds for scholarship and mentoring programs for students in the arts. Sustaining the next generation of creative talent.
A banner by Seymour Chwast, re-purposed into a tote bag.
A banner by Chip Wass, re-purposed into a tote bag.
A mentoring program with students from the High School of Art and Design was featured in The New York Times. The project garnered main-stream media attention.
In addition to New York, eight cities across the United States launched The Urban Forest Project with local artists and designers. The banners in each community were re-purposed into bags to support local environmental initiatives.
The Albuquerque Urban Forest Project featuring 50 local artists and designers was leveraged as a platform to promote the Mayor’s sustainability initiatives. In addition, a custom program for the Albuquerque school district was produced. Student banners were on display at the Albuquerque Zoo.
Banners designed by students in a mentoring program in San Francisco.
An exhibition about The Urban Forest Project was on display at the Payne Gallery at Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA. February 4 - April 1, 2021.