Greenleaf Recreation Center — Approximate Venue for BID Dedication
Six bare bus stops along the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. have traded empty curbs for bright green steel sofas and chairs, part of a new public art installation designed to make waiting for the bus feel a little more like home. Crews installed the sculptures on September 21, and the Southwest Business Improvement District unveiled them at a ribbon-cutting ceremony four days later, on September 25.
The project, called the Southwest Living Rooms, was designed by artist Bruce Willen and brings seating to stops that previously had no benches or shelters at all, according to DC News Now. The sculptures mimic the shape of chairs and sofas, and officials with the Southwest BID say the goal is to make transit feel less impersonal and create space for personal connection and community, the station reports. Willen described the furniture as welcoming and comfortable, resembling pieces from his grandmother’s living room, and said his work aims to create moments of discovery, joy, play, and exploration.
Funding Came From a City Arts Grant
The installation was financed through the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Public Art Building Communities program, which awards grants of up to $150,000 to Business Improvement Districts for public art projects, according to the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The program is built to support permanent or temporary installations that connect artists with local communities across District neighborhoods, the commission notes…