Culliton Park
A three-year multifaceted public art project I worked on during my time with the City of Lancaster Office of Public Art.
The Situation at Hand
The City was gearing up for a multi-million dollar park renovation in the vibrant and culturally diverse area of Cabbage Hill. It was fundamental to get the input of all neighbors when creating the plans for the new public space. There has been an influx of new neighbors in recent years that had formed a neighborhood group, but not everyone in the area is in the know about city projects. We wanted to incorporate art into the park and hire artists to create public art that would engage all neighbors.
How I Helped
Creative Direction, Project Management
Photos and Video by Michelle Johnsen and Sam Solomon
Salina Almanzar created Love Notes to a Park. Using reclaimed formica chips and yarn, she created a heart on the fence of the existing park and asked neighbors to share their wishes for the new park and what they loved about the existing one.
Artist, Matthew Geller was selected to integrate functional public art into the park development. Using images of public art from other city parks he encouraged neighbors to make suggestions.
Salina Almazar created Art Pop in the park by setting up a tent and a table full of art supplies periodically over the summer of 2018 and 2019. Participants were encouraged to talk about the park and the neighborhood.
During Art Pop sessions, Osmyn Oree took photographs of neighbors. Using the photos and descriptions of the neighborhood they had gathered they created This Neighborhood Is, a mural on a wall that faces the park.
In 2020, during the pandemic, collectively with neighbors Salina Almanzar created a mural on a facilities building. A serpentine bench created by Matthew Geller is in the foreground.
Kids play in the playground surrounded by Outer Golly, an interactive artwork that fences the area.
A drone shot of the completed park.