Everybody has encountered a time in his/her life in which they had to start over. Many people have to relocate to a new city, leaving behind their neighbors and friends. Others have to change jobs, saying goodbye to their close-knit clan of coworkers. Some people have to move to a new school, leaving behind their well-known teachers, friends, and corridors. No matter what the situation may be, it is never easy. It often leaves people feeling scared and lonely, not knowing where to turn for comfort in the new and confusing place in which they find themselves. It is often in these moments in life in which people turn to what they’re most passionate about, sports, volunteer work, and for many, the arts.
The arts have always been a place of comfort, a place that people could turn towards in order to express their innermost feelings. These feelings can be heard in music, read in literature, and seen in artwork. No matter what the form, however, art always does a great job of comforting people in their darkest times and celebrating with them in their happiest moments. It connects people from all different types of backgrounds through the rawest emotions, something everybody can relate to.
“Art is a necessity- an essential part of our enlightenment process. We cannot, as a civilized society, regard ourselves as being enlightened without the arts.” Ken Danby
Maybe it’s art’s ability to connect everybody in one way or another that makes it one of the pillars of society. For centuries upon centuries, all throughout the world, art has been an integral part of society. Paintings can be found dating back to the Stone Age, depicting stories of cavemen and mammoths. If we fast forward thousands of years and turn our focus towards the ancient empire of Greece we can hear the musical makings of newly-found instruments such as lyres and the panflute. Jump forward to 18th century Rome, and we found ourselves in the height of the Renaissance; the printing press is being used to duplicate and distribute pieces of literature all throughout Europe. No matter what century we explore, one thing will always be found, art. Visual art, music, and literature can all be found throughout all eras of time, being used as a way to tell stories, express emotions, and bring people together.
Creative Placemaking
Many communities have recognized the importance of art in a society and have used that to their advantage. The founders of City of Asylum knew that the best way to integrate the exiled authors with the community would be through the universally spoken language of art. This realization led them to use a method known as creative placemaking. Through creative placemaking, they began to build the center of the North Side community around art and artists. They began holding readings, organizing concerts, and displaying house publications in order to bring the community together. Eventually, so many people participated in these events, the City of Asylum began setting up an event tent in a lot next door to their office building. They held jazz concerts and poetry readings every week throughout the summer, giving people the chance to connect and interact with others throughout the community.
As the success of these events grew, the founders of City of Asylum decided they needed to do something bigger. Their vision was to create a place where people could find comfort in the arts. A place where those people who may be starting over, much like the exiled writers staying at the City of Asylum, could find refuge and meet people who shared an interest in art. A place where people could gather and exchange cultural views and create new experiences. Their vision led them to create Alphabet City.
Located in the former Masonic Hall in the North Side village of Pittsburgh, Alphabet city is a cultural center that brings people together through art, music, and literature. It is a place where people feel welcomed, no matter what their background may be. Before we go on an envisioned journey through the Alphabet City Center, you must understand the three different types of space we will be encountering in order to fully appreciate all aspects of the center.
Space as explained by Edward Soja
Edward Soja postulated that there are three types of space for any given place; perceived, conceived, and lived. These different types of space give us a way to fully understand and appreciate a building or location on multiple levels. It’s a tricky concept to fully grasp, but once you understand it your perspective of places you might pass through every day will change.
First up is the idea of perceived space. This is the most obvious and probably the most easily described. Perceived space is what you see. It’s that simple. For example, let’s envision a local library. You walk in through the main entrance, and what do you see? Let’s say in this particular library you see a check out station, desks, a row of computers, and bookshelves lining the walls. These are all tangible things that would be seen by anybody who walked through those doors. Perceived space is a constant, unless if it is physically altered.
Up next is the idea of conceived space. This one is a little more abstract, but it still is not impossible to understand. Conceived space is what comes to mind when you hear the name of a place; the opinions and emotions connected to a certain location. Let’s say that we take that same library and before entering we ask people what they think of when they hear the term “library”. The answers will change from person to person depending on their experiences or their previous knowledge of libraries. Some people may envision a large, silent building that comes with intimidating looks from the old librarian. Others may envision something more majestic and exciting, such as a room filled with bookshelves stacked to the ceiling with books; a scene straight out of Beauty and the Beast. Depending on who you ask, the conceived space shifts and changes. Even if you ask the same person, their conceived space may shift over time. Often, conceived space is affected by memories that the person connects to that place, which brings us to our third concept of space.
The final concept of space is lived space. Lived space is made up of people’s personal memories connected to the mentioned site. Any memories or experiences someone connects to a certain place contributes into the lived space of a site. Let’s go back to the local library. One person may think back to their college days, spending hours upon hours cramming for their college finals. Because of their past experiences, or their lived space, their conceived space is affected and may lean more towards having a negative connotation. Another person may have memories of going to the library every weekend with their grandparents and picking out a new book to read. For this individual, their memories connected to this library are ones of excitement and anticipation. Their lived space would positively affect their conceived space by creating positive feelings towards a library. Lived space changes from person to person and creates endless stories within a single place.
Using these ideas of multiple types of space as you explore Alphabet City will help you appreciate the space more. You’ll find yourself making connections between tangible, perceived space, with the abstract, ever-changing conceived and lived space.
Exploring Alphabet City
As I’m writing this, I have yet to visit the Alphabet City Center. It is not yet open, but the City of Asylum hopes it will be opened by the summer of 2016. You may wonder why I’m so interested in a space I’ve never even seen. Honestly, it isn’t the specific building of Alphabet City that has my interest. Rather, I’m inspired by everything the project stands for and what the City of Asylum is hoping to accomplish through opening this cultural center in Pittsburgh. The City of Asylum is taking an abandoned, broken down building and transforming it into a place for people to connect through the arts. They are transforming and transcending all aspects of the Masonic Hall’s space in order to turn it into a tool of creative placemaking.
First, they transformed the perceived space through the renovations of the building. If you would have walked into the new location of Alphabet City five years ago, you would have been unimpressed. The floors would have been covered in dust, windows would have been broken and walls would have been caving in. Now when you walk into the building, you’re amazed by the openness and beauty of the entire building. Whether you’re standing in the performance space, eating dinner in the Caselulla Wine & Cheese Café, browsing the bookstore, or contemplating renting one of the apartments, you’re guaranteed to be both inspired and impressed by the new space of the building. A previously dark, dusty, and depressing interior was converted into a welcoming, inspiring space.
Through changing the perceived space, the City of Asylum also impacted the conceived aspect of space. Prior to the renovations, the building was undesirable and nobody would have spent their time wondering what was hidden within its walls. It was an unwanted space connected to many negative preconceptions. Now, however, the building has a new ambiance that attracts people and inspires creativity. A space where people can go to relax and indulge in arts of all forms. With its welcoming interior and its vast variety of activities, it has been converted into a place where people can get together and exchange cultural creations.
The space of Alphabet City is not done finished changing, and it never will be. Long after the renovations are done, the lived space will be a continuous evolution of memories. With every visit, people will slowly transform the lived space. It may be by having a romantic dinner with a significant other or going with a group of friends to enjoy a jazz performance. Whatever people decide to indulge in at the Alphabet City, they will leave with memories and connections that they will reminisce on for years to come. Much like the writers-in-residence at City of Asylum left their impression through the house publications, Alphabet City is a blank canvas waiting for you to leave your mark.
“Memories tie us to that place… It’s personal not interesting to anyone else, but after all that’s what gives a neighborhood its character.” Michael de Certeau (Walking in the City)